Tin(II)‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks Enabling Efficient, Selective Reduction of CO2 to Formate under Visible Light

Abstract

AbstractCertain metal complexes are known as high‐performance CO2 reduction photocatalysts driven by visible light. However, most of them rely on rare, precious metals as principal components, and integrating the functions of light absorption and catalysis into a single molecular unit based on abundant metals remains a challenge. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs), which can be regarded as intermediate compounds between molecules and inorganic solids, are potential platforms for the construction of a simple photocatalytic system composed only of Earth‐abundant nontoxic elements. In this work, we report that a tin‐based MOF enables the conversion of CO2 into formic acid with a record high apparent quantum yield (9.8 % at 400 nm) and >99 % selectivity without the need for any additional photosensitizer or catalyst. This work highlights a new MOF with strong potential for photocatalytic CO2 reduction driven by solar energy.