Metal–Organic Frameworks Integrate Cu Photosensitizers and Secondary Building Unit-Supported Fe Catalysts for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

We report here the synthesis of a series of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), FeX@Zr6-Cu, comprising cuprous photosensitizing linkers (Cu-PSs) and catalytically active FeII centers supported on secondary building units (SBUs) for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Close proximity (∼1 nm) between Cu-PS and SBU-supported Fe sites and stabilization of Fe sites by periodically ordered SBUs led to exceptionally high H2 evolution activity for FeX@Zr6-Cu, with turnover numbers of up to 33 700 and turnover frequencies of up to 880 h–1. Photocatalytic H2 evolution activities of FeX@Zr6-Cu correlate with the lability of X counteranions, suggesting that open coordination environments of Fe sites generated by labile X groups facilitate the formation of Fe-hydride intermediates before hydrogen evolution. This work highlights the potential of using MOFs to integrate Earth-abundant components for solar energy utilization.