Al-based metal-organic framework for piezocatalytic hydrogen peroxide production: Efficiency, pathway, and mechanism

Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a versatile substance with a wide array of applications, and piezocatalysis represents a promising alternative approach for its on-site synthesis. In this study, we report the successful synthesis of an aluminum-based metal-organic framework (MOF) NH 2 -MIL-101(Al), which exhibits exceptional piezocatalytic activity. The NH 2 -MIL-101(Al) catalyst demonstrated good piezoresponse to the external mechanical forces, with an estimated piezoelectric coefficient of 18.2 nm V −1 . Notably, the NH 2 -MIL-101(Al) piezocatalyst achieved a high H 2 O 2 production rate of 8.89 mmol g −1 h −1 under ultrasonic vibration, and demonstrated robust catalytic performance under complex environmental conditions. Mechanistic analysis revealed the promoted charge transfer as well as efficient O 2 reduction by the induced polarized electric field over NH 2 -MIL-101(Al). This research contributes significantly to the advancement of novel MOF materials tailored for H 2 O 2 production, underscoring the potential of MOFs in enhancing piezocatalytic processes.