Cu-functionalised porous boron nitride derived from a metal–organic framework
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Porous boron nitride (BN) displays promising properties for interfacial and bulk processes, e.g. molecular separation and storage, or (photo)catalysis. To maximise porous BN's potential in such applications, tuning and controlling its chemical and structural features is key. Functionalisation of porous BN with metal nanoparticle represents one possible route, albeit a hardly explored one. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely used as precursors to synthesise metal functionalised porous carbon-based materials, yet MOF-derived metal functionalised inorganic porous materials remain unexplored. Here, we hypothesise that MOFs could also serve as a platform to produce metal-functionalised porous BN. We have used a Cu-containing MOF, i.e. Cu/ZIF-8, as a precursor and successfully obtained porous BN functionalised with Cu nanoparticles (i.e. Cu/BN). While we have shown control of the Cu content, we have not yet demonstrated it for the nanoparticle size. The functionalisation has led to improved light harvesting and enhanced electron–hole separation, which have had a direct positive impact on the CO2 photoreduction activity (production formation rate 1.5 times higher than pristine BN and 12.5 times higher than g-C3N4). In addition, we have found that the metal in the MOF precursor impacts porous BN's purity. Unlike Cu/ZIF-8, a Co-containing ZIF-8 precursor led to porous C-BN (i.e. BN with a large amount of C in the structure). Overall, given the diversity of metals in MOFs, one could envision our approach as a method to produce a library of different metal functionalised porous BN samples.
Date Issued
2022-09-06
Date Acceptance
2022-09-04
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2022, 10 (38), pp.20580-20592
ISSN
2050-7488
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
20580
End Page
20592
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
10
Issue
38
Copyright Statement
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2022. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence.
License URL
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2022/TA/D2TA05515E
Grant Number
850624
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Materials Science
CO2 PHOTOREDUCTION
PHOTOCATALYTIC REDUCTION
ENERGY-CONVERSION
CRYSTAL-GROWTH
COPPER
OXIDATION
EFFICIENT
CATALYSTS
NANOPARTICLES
ADSORPTION
0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
0912 Materials Engineering
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2022-09-06