Rational Grafting of Specific Functional Groups to Heterostructured MOF Catalysts for Enhanced Hydrogenation

Grafting specific functional groups onto a host catalyst to modulate its electron density is an effective strategy for enhancing heterogeneous catalytic properties. However, introducing functional groups while preserving the host's structural integrity remains a significant challenge. Herein, a multistep strategy was employed to construct a binary MOF-on-MOF catalyst (denoted as ZIF-67-on-MIL-101s), in which specific functional groups were incorporated into the multiporous structure alongside the host MOF. The experimental and theoretical calculation results show that the specific functional group of the host MOF significantly enhances the catalytic activity, leading to ZIF-67-on-MIL-101-NH₂ possessing high activity on the hydrogen transfer selectively reduce nitro-compounds under mild conditions. This approach has recently emerged as a research hotspot in the fields of chemistry and materials science.