Cu[Ni(2,3-pyrazinedithiolate)₂] Metal–Organic Framework for Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

The application of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as electrocatalysts for small molecule activation has been an emerging topic of research. Previous studies have suggested that two-dimensional (2D) dithiolene-based MOFs are among the most active for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Here, a three-dimensional (3D) dithiolene-based MOF, Cu[Ni(2,3-pyrazinedithiolate)2] (1), is evaluated as an electrocatalyst for the HER. In pH 1.3 aqueous electrolyte solution, 1 exhibits a catalytic onset at −0.43 V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), an overpotential (η10 mA/cm2) of 0.53 V to reach a current density of 10 mA/cm2, and a Tafel slope of 69.0 mV/dec. Interestingly, under controlled potential electrolysis, 1 undergoes an activation process that results in a more active catalyst with a 200 mV reduction in the catalytic onset and η10 mA/cm2. It is proposed that the activation process is a result of the cleavage of Cu–N bonds in the presence of protons and electrons. This hypothesis is supported by various experimental studies and density functional theory calculations.