Heterostructured Au NPs/CdS/LaBTC MOFs Photoanode for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Stability Enhancement via CdSe QDs to 2D-CdS Nanosheets Transformation

The electrochemical stability of MOFs in aqueous medium is most essential for MOFs based electrocatalysts for hydrogen production via water splitting. Since most MOFs suffer from instability issues in aqueous systems, there is enormous demand for electrochemically stable MOFs catalysts. Herein, we have developed a simple postsynthesis surface modification protocol for La (1,3,5-BTC) (H2O)6 metal-organic frameworks (LaBTC MOFs) using Mercaptopropionic acid (MPA), to attain electrochemical stability in aqueous mediums. The MPA treated LaBTC MOFs exhibited better stability than the bare LaBTC. Further, to facilitate light harvesting properties of LaBTC MOFs, Au nanoparticles (NPs) and CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are functionalized on LaBTC. The sensitization of LaBTC with Au NPs and CdSe QDs enhances the light harvesting properties of LaBTC in the visible region of solar spectrum. Using as a photoanode, the electrode generates the current density of ∼80 mA/cm(2) at 0.8 V (vs Ag/AgCl) during photoelectrochemical water splitting. The heterostructured LaBTC photoanode demonstrates the long-term stability for the period of 10 h. The electrode post-mortem analysis confirms the conversion of CdSe QDs into single crystalline 2D-CdS nanosheets. The present investigation reveals that CdS nanosheets together with SPR Au NPs improve the photoelectrochemical water splitting activity and stability of LaBTC MOFs.