Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Reaction of Metal Organic Frameworks decorated with poly (3-aminobenzoic acid)

Abstract Advanced materials for hydrogen evolution reaction are central to the area of renewable energy. Here, we developed a solvothermal synthesis of metal organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles decorated with poly (3-aminobenzoic acid) (PABA) referred as MOF-3.6 wt.%-PABA and MOF–5 wt.%-PABA composites. The parent material (MOF) and composites were characterized by ultraviolet visible (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS, EDX), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Detailed structural and morphological characterizations established that PABA interacts with MOF on the external surface as observed by appearance of rough surface of the composites. The XRD and SAED showed that MOF and composites are crystalline and the presence of PABA did not alter the crystallinity of the material. Experiments probing the thermal, electrochemical and photophysical properties revealed that the composites were very stable and robust and had exceptionally properties. Significant hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) using CV and Tafel plots, was generated by MOF and composites in dimethyl sulfoxide/tetrabutylammonium perchlorate (DMSO/TBAP) supporting electrolyte in the presence of hydrogen source by applying a negative potential to the electrode.