Optimizing Pt Electronic States through Formation of a Schottky Junction on Non-reducible Metal-Organic Frameworks for Enhanced Photocatalysis

Charge transfer between metal sites and supports is crucial for catalysis. Redox-inert supports are usually unfavorable due to their less electronic interaction with metal sites, which, we demonstrate, is not always correct. Herein, three metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are chosen to mimic inert or active supports for Pt nanoparticles (NPs) and the photocatalysis is studied. Results demonstrate the formation of a Schottky junction between Pt and the MOFs, leading to the electron-donation effect of the MOFs. Under light irradiation, both the MOF electron-donation effect and Pt interband excitation dominate the Pt electron density. Compared with the "active" UiO-66 and MIL-125 supports, Pt NPs on the "inert" ZIF-8 exhibit higher electron density due to the higher Schottky barrier, resulting in superior photocatalytic activity. This work optimizes metal catalysts with non-reducible supports, and promotes the understanding of the relationship between the metal-support interaction and photocatalysis.