Conductive Two-Dimensional Phthalocyanine-based Metal-Organic Framework Nanosheets for Efficient Electroreduction of CO2

The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 into valueadded chemicals is a promising approach to realize a carbon-energy balance. However, low current density still limits the application of the CO2 electroreduction reaction (CO2RR). Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are one class of promising alternatives for the CO2RR due to their periodically arranged isolated metal active sites. However, the poor conductivity of traditional MOFs usually results in a low current density in CO2RR. We have prepared conductive two-dimensional (2D) phthalocyanine-based MOF (NiPc-NiO4) nanosheets linked by nickel-catecholate, which can be employed as highly efficient electrocatalysts for the CO2RR to CO. The obtained NiPc-NiO4 has a good conductivity and exhibited a very high selectivity of 98.4% toward CO production and a large CO partial current density of 34.5 mAcm(-2), outperforming the reported MOF catalysts. This work highlights the potential of conductive crystalline frameworks in electrocatalysis.

Automated summary

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising alternatives for CO2RR due to their periodic arrangement of isolated metal active sites, but traditional MOFs have poor conductivity. Researchers have prepared conductive 2D phthalocyanine-based MOF nanosheets, which exhibit a high efficiency and selectivity for CO production.