Formation and growth of Pd nanoparticles in UiO-67 MOF by in situ EXAFS

Metal-Organic Framework (MOF)-Based Clean Energy Conversion: Recent Advances in Unlocking its Underlying Mechanisms

Carbon neutrality is an important goal for humanity . As an eco-friendly technology, electrocatalytic clean energy conversion technology has emerged in the 21st century. Currently, metal-organic framework (MOF)-based electrocatalysis, including oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), oxygen evolution reaction (OER), hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR), carbon dioxide reduction reaction (CO2RR), nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR), are the mainstream energy catalytic reactions, which are driven by electrocatalysis. In this paper, the current advanced characterizations for the analyses of MOF-based electrocatalytic energy reactions have been described in details, such as density function theory (DFT), machine learning, operando/in situ characterization, which provide in-depth analyses of the reaction mechanisms related to the above reactions reported in the past years. The practical applications that have been developed for some of the responses that are of application values, such as fuel cells, metal-air batteries, and water splitting have also been demonstrated. This paper aims to maximize the potential of MOF-based electrocatalysts in the field of energy catalysis, and to shed light on the development of current intense energy situations.

Rational Functionalization of UiO-66 with Pd Nanoparticles: Synthesis and In Situ Fourier-Transform Infrared Monitoring

Functionalization of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) is a challenging task. Conventional impregnation by metals often leads to agglomerates on the surface of MOF crystals. Functional groups on linkers interact with metal precursors and promote the homogeneous distribution of NPs in the pores of MOFs, but their uncontrolled localization can block channels and thus hinder mass transport. To overcome this problem, we created nucleation centers only in the defective pores of the UiO-66 MOF via the postsynthesis exchange. First, we have introduced defects into UiO-66 using benzoic acid as a modulator. Second, the modulator was exchanged for amino-benzoic acid. As a result, amino groups have decorated mainly the defective pores and attracted the Pd precursor after impregnation. The interaction of the metal precursor with amino groups and the growth of NPs were monitored by in situ infrared spectroscopy. Three processes were distinguished: the gaseous HCl release, NH₂ reactivation, and growth of extended Pd surfaces. Uniform Pd NPs were located in the pores because of the homogeneous distribution of the precursor and pore diffusion-limited nucleation rate. Our work demonstrates an alternative approach of controlled Pd incorporation into UiO-66 that is of great importance for the rational design of heterogeneous catalysts.

Dehydrogenation of Ethylene on Supported Palladium Nanoparticles: A Double View from Metal and Hydrocarbon Sides

Adsorption of ethylene on palladium, a key step in various catalytic reactions, may result in a variety of surface-adsorbed species and formation of palladium carbides, especially under industrially relevant pressures and temperatures. Therefore, the application of both surface and bulk sensitive techniques under reaction conditions is important for a comprehensive understanding of ethylene interaction with Pd-catalyst. In this work, we apply in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy to follow the evolution of the bulk and surface structure of an industrial catalysts consisting of 2.6 nm supported palladium nanoparticles upon exposure to ethylene under atmospheric pressure at 50 °C. Experimental results were complemented by ab initio simulations of atomic structure, X-ray absorption spectra and vibrational spectra. The adsorbed ethylene was shown to dehydrogenate to C2H3, C2H2 and C2H species, and to finally decompose to palladium carbide. Thus, this study reveals the evolution pathway of ethylene on industrial Pd-catalyst under atmospheric pressure at moderate temperatures, and provides a conceptual framework for the experimental and theoretical investigation of palladium-based systems, in which both surface and bulk structures exhibit a dynamic nature under reaction conditions.

In Situ Time-Resolved Decomposition of β-Hydride Phase in Palladium Nanoparticles Coated with Metal-Organic Framework

The formation of palladium hydrides is a well-known phenomenon, observed for both bulk and nanosized samples. The kinetics of hydrogen adsorption/desorption strongly depends on the particle size and shape, as well as the type of support and/or coating of the particles. In addition, the structural properties of hydride phases and their distribution also depend on the particle size. In this work, we report on the in situ characterization of palladium nanocubes coated with HKUST-1 metal-organic framework (Pd@HKUST-1) during desorption of hydrogen by means of synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray powder diffraction. A slower hydrogen desorption, compared to smaller sized Pd nanoparticles was observed. Rietveld refinement of the time-resolved data revealed the remarkable stability of the lattice parameters of α- and β-hydride phases of palladium during the α- to β- phase transition, denoting the behavior more similar to the bulk materials than nanoparticles. The stability in the crystal sizes for both α- and β-hydride phases during the phase transition indicates that no sub-domains are formed within a single particle during the phase transition.

In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy data during formation of active Pt- and Pd-sites in functionalized UiO-67 metal-organic frameworks

We report a series of Pd K-edge and Pt L ₃-edge X-ray absorption spectra (XAS) collected in situ during thermal treatment of functionalized UiO-67-Pd and UiO-67-Pt metal-organic frameworks in inert and reducing atmospheres. We present raw synchrotron data from three subsequent experiments at different beamlines, normalized XAS spectra and k ²-weighted oscillatory χ(k) functions extracted from one of the datasets. Pd K-edge spectra were collected for the samples in 5% H₂/He, 3% H₂/He and pure He in the temperature range from room temperature (RT) to 450 °C. Pt L ₃-edge were collected for the samples in 3% H₂/He, 10% H₂/He and pure He in the temperature range from RT to 300 °C. All spectra are reported together with the used atmosphere and temperature. For the analysis of all reported datasets, please see "Evolution of Pt and Pd species in functionalized UiO-67 metal-organic frameworks". Fourier-analysis of Pd K-edge is reported in "Formation and growth of Pd nanoparticles in UiO-67 MOF by in situ EXAFS".