Zr-Based Metal-Organic Framework Films Grown on Bio-Template for Photoelectrocatalysis

A series of Zr-based metal-organic framework (Zr-MOF) films are anchored on the surface of butterfly wing via solvothermal method for HER application, including UiO-66, NH2-UiO-66 and UiO-67. Oriented nanoparticles are anchored on the photonic crystal bio-template. The distinctive design of the Zr-MOFs/B composites enables remarkable photoelectrocatalytic HER activity in comparison with corresponding intrinsic Zr-MOFs, primarily due to the synergy effect between MOFs and the photonic crystal. The cathode current increases to 1.94, 0.98 and 3.64 mA cm(-2) for UiO-66/B, NH2-UiO-66/B and UiO-67/B, respectively, at an overpotential of -0.6 V vs RHE when irradiated for 30 min upon simulated sunlight. Upon simulated sunlight irradiation, the carrier density increases by 2.00, 1.26 and 1.48 times for UiO-66/B, NH2-UiO-66/B and UiO-67/B, respectively. This work paves a promising pathway for designing efficient HER electrocatalysts by combination of Zr-MOFs and photo-active butterfly wings.