Novel Pd/MOF electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction

Abstract

Weak electrical conduction impedes the application of Metal-organic framework (MOF) in electrochemistry. In this work, palladium-based MOF (Pd/MOF) is synthesized via i) simple solvothermal process and ii) direct chemical reduction method. N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms and thermogravimetric analyzer show that MOF have large specific surface area and good thermal stability. The synthesized materials were tested in acidic condition for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Electrochemical test results show that Pd/MOF with tafel slope of 85 mV·dec−1, onset overpotential of 105 mV and ideal stability has better performance than bulk MOF for HER. The enhanced performance can be ascribed to the large porosity and specific surface of MOF, and the synergistic effect between Pd and MOF toward H2 production.