From Metal Powder to Super Catalyst: One-Pot Transformation of Cu⁰ Powder to MOF Embedded Nanoparticles for Multifunctional Catalysis

Abstract

Cu-BTC (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) framework faces environmental and scalability challenges in conventional synthesis due to energy-intensive processes, using toxic solvents and costly precursors, with nanoparticle integration further complicating production through multi-step procedures that degrade structural integrity. This study developed an innovative ambient-temperature synthesis of Cu-N coordinated Cu-BTC MOF containing dispersed Cu/Cu₂O nanoparticles using economical Cu⁰ powder. The N-ligand-mediated oxidation and deprotonation simultaneously achieve: (1) incorporation of 5 nm nanoparticles, (2) in situ formation of catalytic Cu–N bonds, and (3) manifestation of multifunctional catalytic performance. The Cu/Cu₂O@Cu-BTC/N composite demonstrates outstanding catalytic activity, achieving high yields across multiple reactions: 91% in Knoevenagel condensation, 89% in Sonogashira coupling, 99% in Ullmann-type C–N coupling, and 97% in indole C2-acylation, along with exceptional photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance (7.06 mmol·g^–1·h^–1). Notably, the synthetic protocol demonstrates excellent scalability, maintaining 90% yield at both 1 g and 10 g scales, thereby establishing a sustainable pathway for large-scale production of multifunctional MOF catalysts with promising applications in green chemistry and energy-related fields.

Keywords

Metal–organic framework / Copper powder / Multifunctional catalysis / Cu–N coordinated / Heterogeneous catalysis / Water splitting

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