Cobalt Imidazolate Metal-Organic Frameworks Photosplit CO2 under Mild Reaction Conditions

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have shown great promise for CO2 capture and storage. However, the operation of chemical redox functions of framework substances and organic CO2‐trapping entities which are spatially linked together to catalyze CO2 conversion has had much less attention. Reported herein is a cobalt‐containing zeolitic imidazolate framework (Co‐ZIF‐9) which serves as a robust MOF cocatalyst to reduce CO2 by cooperating with a ruthenium‐based photosensitizer. The catalytic turnover number of Co‐ZIF‐9 was about 450 within 2.5 hours under mild reaction conditions, while still keeping its original reactivity during prolonged operation. Splitting up: A cobalt‐containing zeolitic imidazolate framework (Co‐ZIF‐9) has been used as a stable metal–organic framework cocatalyst with a photosensitizer to reduce CO2. It combines benefits of the nanoporous characteristic of Co‐ZIF‐9 for CO2 capture/activation and the catalytic redox function of cobalt centers. bpy=2,2′‐bipyridine, TEOA=triethanolamine.