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Light triggers reversible CO2 binding and reduction in a cerium MOF

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Research area:chemistry-materials

What the study found

The study found that light can induce reversible binding of carbon dioxide in a cerium-based metal–organic framework, called Ce-UiO-66-NH2, and that this system can reduce carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in water without sacrificial agents. The reported carbon monoxide production rate was 126 μmol·g−1·h−1 with 100% selectivity.

Why the authors say this matters

The authors conclude that this work will promote the design of photocatalysts, meaning light-activated catalysts, capable of synthesizing fuels from carbon dioxide. They also present the system as outperforming the non-amine analogue Ce-UiO-66 and benchmark catalysts reported to date.

What the researchers tested

The researchers tested a cerium-based metal–organic framework, Ce-UiO-66-NH2, which contains an amino-functionalized linker. They used in situ infrared, X-ray absorption, electron paramagnetic resonance, and transient absorption spectroscopy to examine what happens after photoexcitation.

What worked and what didn't

Photoexcitation was found to induce a ligand-to-metal charge transfer, generating transient open Ce(III) sites that bind carbon dioxide in a μ-(η1-O)(η1-C) binding mode. This binding was reversible and activated carbon dioxide for subsequent photoreduction to carbon monoxide. The amino-functionalized material outperformed the non-amine analogue Ce-UiO-66, while no sacrificial agents were used.

What to keep in mind

The abstract does not describe experimental limitations, so only the reported summary can be stated here. The findings are specific to the cerium-based metal–organic framework studied and the conditions reported in the abstract.

Key points

  • Light triggered reversible carbon dioxide binding in Ce-UiO-66-NH2.
  • The material reduced carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide in water without sacrificial agents.
  • Reported carbon monoxide production was 126 μmol·g−1·h−1 with 100% selectivity.
  • Spectroscopy indicated transient open Ce(III) sites formed after photoexcitation.
  • The amino-functionalized framework outperformed the non-amine analogue Ce-UiO-66.

Disclosure

Research title:
Light triggers reversible CO2 binding and reduction in a cerium MOF
Authors:
Shan Dai, Xiangdi Zeng, Moore, Benjamin, 1748-1816, Yuxiang Zhu, Yuhang Yang, Zi Wang, Lei Li, Te Wang, Iván da Silva, Luke L. Keenan, Floriana Tuna, Daniel Lee, Sarah J. Day, Lucy K. Saunders, Martin Schröder, Sihai Yang
Institutions:
Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Diamond Light Source, Diamond Light Source, Diamond Light Source, Peking University, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester, University of Manchester
Publication date:
2026-03-10
DOI:
10.1021/jacs.5c20721
OpenAlex record:
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AI provenance: This post was generated by gpt-5.4-mini (OpenAI). The original authors did not write or review this post.

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