Near-Infrared-Responsive Au Nanorod/UiO-66-NH2 Hybrids for Photocatalytic Carbon Dioxide Conversion

The efficient conversion of carbon dioxide into value-added chemicals using solar energy remains a critical scientific and technological challenge, particularly due to the limited utilization of the near-infrared (NIR) region of the solar spectrum. In this study, we report the design and synthesis of an ultrabroadband plasmonic–metal–organic framework (MOF) hybrid photocatalyst capable of driving the carbon dioxide reduction reaction under NIR irradiation. Gold nanorods with tuneable longitudinal surface plasmon resonance were successfully integrated into a UiO-66-NH2 framework through an in-situ encapsulation strategy followed by mild thermal treatment to enhance interfacial coupling. The resulting composite exhibits strong and continuous light absorption across the 300–1200 nm range, enabling efficient harvesting of low-energy photons. Under 808 nm irradiation, the optimized catalyst demonstrates a CO production rate of 152.3 μmol g-1 h-1 with a selectivity exceeding 90%. Detailed spectroscopic and electrochemical analyses reveal that plasmon-induced hot carrier generation and efficient interfacial charge transfer play a decisive role in enhancing photocatalytic performance. This work provides a viable pathway for extending photocatalytic activity into the NIR region and contributes to the advancement of solar-to-chemical energy conversion technologies.