Platinum-Assisted Bimetallic Ru–Eu/Pr MOFs for Photocatalytic H₂ Evolution from Water Splitting

Photocatalytic H 2 evolution from water splitting is a renewable, environmentally friendly technology to utilize solar energy. Two photoactive bimetallic metal–organic framework (MOF) catalysts, the Ru–Eu MOF (Eu-MOF-Ru(cptpy) 2 ) and the Ru–Pr MOF (Pr-MOF-Ru(cptpy) 2 ) were designed and synthesized via a convenient solvothermal method. The two MOF catalysts were characterized through multiple characterization methods to demonstrate their compositions, structures, optical properties, and morphologies. The photocatalytic performances for H 2 evolution from water splitting of two compounds were systemically studied by varying the loading amount of the Pt cocatalyst and the type of sacrificial agent. The introduction of a Pt cocatalyst could significantly improve their photocatalytic H 2 production activities. The best sacrificial agent was ascorbic acid, and the Ru–Eu MOF showed a better catalytic effect than the Ru–Pr MOF. With ascorbic acid as the sacrificial agent, 0.5% Pt/Eu-MOF-Ru(cptpy) 2 achieved an optimal light-driven H 2 evolution rate of 4373 μmol·h –1 ·g –1 . And after at least 3 times of successive usage (9 h), its catalytic activity was not evidently decreased. The excellent efficiency of photocatalytic H 2 evolution by bimetallic Ru–Eu/Pr MOFs may provide a class of promising catalysts for industrial H 2 production.