Charity C. Epley

Solvothermal Preparation of an Electrocatalytic Metalloporphyrin MOF Thin Film and its Redox Hopping Charge-Transfer Mechanism

A thin film of a metalloporphyrin metal-organic framework consisting of [5,10,15,20-(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin]Co(III) (CoTCPP) struts bound by linear trinuclear Co(II)-carboxylate clusters has been prepared solvothermally on conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide substrates. Characterization of this mesoporous thin film material, designated as CoPIZA/FTO, which is equipped with large cavities and access to metal active sites, reveals an electrochemically active material. Cyclic voltammetry displays a reversible peak with E(1/2) at -1.04 V vs ferrocyanide attributed to the (Co(III/II)TCPP)CoPIZA redox couple and a quasi-reversible peak at -1.45 V vs ferrocyanide, which corresponds to the reduction of (Co(II/I)TCPP)CoPIZA. Analysis of the spectroelectrochemical response for the (Co(II/I)TCPP)CoPIZA redox couple revealed non-Nernstian reduction with a nonideality factor of 2 and an E(1/2) of -1.39 V vs ferrocyanide. The film was shown to retain its structural integrity with applied potential, as was demonstrated spectroelectrochemically with maintenance of isosbestic points at 430, 458, and 544 nm corresponding to the (Co(III/II)TCPP)CoPIZA transition and at 390 and 449 nm corresponding to the (Co(II/I)TCPP)CoPIZA transition. The mechanism of charge transport through the film is proposed to be a redox hopping mechanism, which is supported by both cyclic voltammetry and spectroelectrochemistry. A fit of the time-dependent spectroelectrochemical data to a modified Cottrell equation gave an apparent diffusion coefficient of 7.55 (±0.05) × 10(-14) cm(2)/s for ambipolar electron and cation transport throughout the film. Upon reduction of the metalloporphyrin struts to (Co(I)TCPP)CoPIZA, the CoPIZA thin film demonstrated catalytic activity for the reduction of carbon tetrachloride.

Cooperative electrochemical water oxidation by Zr nodes and Ni–porphyrin linkers of a PCN-224 MOF thin film

Here, we demonstrate a new strategy for cooperative catalysis and proton abstraction via the incorporation of independent species competent in the desired reactivity into a metal–organic framework (MOF) thin film. The highly porous MOF, designated as PCN-224-Ni, is constructed by Zr–oxo nodes and nickel(II) porphyrin linkers. Films of PCN-224-Ni were grown in situ on FTO and were found to electrochemically facilitate the water oxidation reaction at near neutral pH.

Study of Electrocatalytic Properties of Metal–Organic Framework PCN-223 for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction

A highly robust metal-organic framework (MOF) constructed from Zr6 oxo clusters and Fe(III) porphyrin linkers, PCN-223-Fe was investigated as a heterogeneous catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Films of the framework were grown on a conductive FTO substrate and showed a high catalytic current upon application of cathodic potentials and achieved high H2O/H2O2 selectivity. In addition, the effect of the proton source on the catalytic performance was also investigated.

Proton-Coupled Electron Transport in Anthraquinone-Based Zirconium Metal–Organic Frameworks

The ditopic ligands 2,6-dicarboxy-9,10-anthraquinone and 1,4-dicarboxy-9,10-anthraquinone were used to synthesize two new UiO-type metal-organic frameworks (MOFs; namely, 2,6-Zr-AQ-MOF and 1,4-Zr-AQ-MOF, respectively). The Pourbaix diagrams (E vs pH) of the MOFs and their ligands were constructed using cyclic voltammetry in aqueous buffered media. The MOFs exhibit chemical stability and undergo diverse electrochemical processes, where the number of electrons and protons transferred was tailored in a Nernstian manner by the pH of the media. Both the 2,6-Zr-AQ-MOF and its ligand reveal a similar electrochemical pKa value (7.56 and 7.35, respectively) for the transition between a two-electron, two-proton transfer (at pH < pKa) and a two-electron, one-proton transfer (at pH > pKa). In contrast, the position of the quinone moiety with respect to the zirconium node, the effect of hydrogen bonding, and the amount of defects in 1,4-Zr-AQ-MOF lead to the transition from a two-electron, three-proton transfer to a two-electron, one-proton transfer. The pKa of this framework (5.18) is analogous to one of the three electrochemical pKa values displayed by its ligand (3.91, 5.46, and 8.80), which also showed intramolecular hydrogen bonding. The ability of the MOFs to tailor discrete numbers of protons and electrons suggests their application as charge carriers in electronic devices.