Charge transfer dependence on CO hydrogenation activity to methanol in Cu nanoparticles covered with metal-organic framework systems.

We report the synthesis and characterization of highly active Cu nanoparticles covered with zirconium/hafnium-based metal-organic frameworks for CO hydrogenation to methanol. Compared to , , and composites, UiO-66 acts as the most active support, with producing methanol at a rate 70 times higher than that of . In addition, the replacement of Zr with Hf in UiO-66 tripled in the rate of methanol production. Furthermore, we describe a substituent effect on the catalytic activity, with providing a three-fold enhancement of methanol production, compared to that of or . The enhanced catalytic activity of Cu nanoparticles depends on the charge transfer degree from Cu nanoparticles to UiO-66 at the interface between Cu nanoparticles and UiO-66.