Copper-Based Metal-Organic Framework with a Tetraphenylethylene-Tetrazole Linker for Visible-Light-Driven CO2 Photoconversion

The design of efficient and inexpensive photocatalysts for CO2photoreduction under visible light is of great significance for the sustainabledevelopment of the entire society. Herein, a copper-based metal-organic framework(MOF) (CUST-804) using a bulky tetraphenylethylene-tetrazole linker issynthesized and successfully used as a photocatalyst for CO2reduction. Thestructural characterizations, as well as the photophysical properties, are investigatedsystematically. In the heterogeneous catalytic system,CUST-804exhibits a robustCO production activity up to 2.71 mmol g-1h-1with excellent recyclability alongwith a selectivity of 82.8%, which is comparable with those of the reported copper-based MOF system. Theoretical calculations demonstrated that, among three kindsof coordinated model, only the 5-coordinated Cu site is active for CO2reduction, inwhich the*COOH intermediate is stabilized and CO is readily desorbed. Theresults obtained herein can provide fresh insights into the realization of efficientcopper-functionalized crystalline photocatalysts for CO2reduction.

Automated summary

This study successfully synthesized a copper-based metal-organic framework (CUST-804) photocatalyst with efficient CO2 reduction activity and good recyclability. The experimental results demonstrated that the 5-coordinated Cu site in the coordinated model played a vital role in CO2 reduction, providing fresh insights into efficient copper-functionalized crystalline photocatalysts for CO2 reduction.