Solubilizing Metal-Organic Frameworks for an In Situ IR-SEC Study of a CO2 Reduction Catalyst

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are typically assembled by bridging metal centers with organic linkers for various applications, including providing robust support for heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 reduction. In this study, we have demonstrated the solubilization of a MOF tethered to a CO2-reducing electrocatalyst and studied its fundamental electrochemistry in THF solvent using infrared spectroelectrochemistry (IR-SEC). The fundamental electrochemical properties of this immobilized catalyst were compared to that of its homogeneous counterpart. This approach provides a foundation for future experimental studies to bridge the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous electrocatalysis.