As we came to the end date of the MOF2H2 project, we would like to present you several reflections from members of our consortium. These articles will provide insights into project’s path, progress, and its outcomes. The participants will describe the scientific ambitions that drove MOF2H2, and how these ambitions successfully translated into concrete results.
As our first contributor, we are happy to share with you an account from our Greek partner the National Hellenic Research Foundation (Ethniko Idryma Erevnon / Εθνικό Ίδρυμα Ερευνών), or shortly NHRF.
Scientific ambition: What made MOF2H2 worth pursuing
MOF2H2’s declared ambition was to go beyond the state-of-the-art by reaching a higher sun-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency, over 5%, one thousand times higher (by three orders of magnitude) than the current benchmark.
NHRF’s team considers MOF2H2’s ambition clearly visible, given the fact that it doesn’t focus on improvements to known systems, but the project rather sets a high bar for scientific and technological impact through developing sustainable, scalable and cost-effective photocatalytic systems, to reach greater efficiency while using abundant materials.
This emphasis on both fundamental understanding of Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) performance and demonstration of the practical feasibility under real-lighting conditions is “beyond interesting” and at the same time, aligns strongly with NHRF’s research strengths (synthesis of modified elements with nanocarbons)and long-term strategic interests of sustainable energy solutions in Europe.
“The project demonstrated that hybrid MOF-based photocatalysts can be rationally engineered at the molecular level to improve charge separation, stability and functional integration, in order to tackle critical bottlenecks for solar-driven hydrogen production. It also shows that combining MOFs with tailored nanocarbon components is a cutting-edge approach. The MOF2H2 solutions’ advanced design principles bring significantly closer a successful scalable and efficient implementation of low-carbon hydrogen technologies.”
Our contribution: Roles, results, and concrete outputs
NHRF’s main role in the project was centred around the design, synthesis, functionalization, and in-depth spectroscopic characterization of nanocarbon materials, and their use for post-synthetic modification of MOFs for photocatalytic applications.
Therefore, NHRF’s team was primarily involved in Synthesis and development of the first-generation MOFs (Work Package 2) focusing on functionalized nanocarbons for the MOFs, and in developing refined MOFs (Work Package 4) working on MOF–nanocarbon hybridization, in order to create refined MOFs that would allow for reaching even higher efficiencies. In sum, NHRF acted as a key materials-engineering partner, supplying reproducible, well-characterized nanocarbons and hybrid materials to the consortium for further performance evaluation.
What is more, NHRF equally contributed to WP3 regarding characterisation, to WP5 on material selection and upscaling efforts, and to WP7, where they helped with project achievements’ dissemination and communication.
NHRF delivered several important elements to the results of the project through providing robust synthetic platforms for functionalized fullerenes and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), including modified C₆₀, azafullerene C59N-based derivatives, and modified-CNTs capable of metal coordination.
Crucially, these materials were successfully integrated into Zr- and Ti-based MOFs (MOF-818/Zr and MIP-177-LT) using encapsulation and post-synthetic coordination strategies, yielding structurally stable hybrid frameworks.
Thereby, two key deliverables were achieved:
- Reporting the synthesis, optimization, scalability, and full characterization of modified nanocarbons [D2.4]
- Establishing reproducible protocols for the preparation and multi-technique characterization of MOF-nanocarbon hybrids suitable for photocatalytic testing [D4.2]
Also, through achieving the principal deliverables, the MOF2H2 project contributed considerably to the field of low carbon hydrogen thanks to two reasons. First, the project demonstrated that hybrid MOF-based photocatalysts can be rationally engineered at the molecular level to improve charge separation, stability and functional integration, in order to tackle critical bottlenecks for solar-driven hydrogen production. Second, it shows that combining MOFs with tailored nanocarbon components is a cutting-edge approach. The MOF2H2 solutions’ advanced design principles (bridging photophysics and applied catalysis) bring significantly closer a successful scalable and efficient implementation of low-carbon hydrogen technologies.
Lessons learned: Challenges, growth, and organisational impact
Throughout the project, NHRF faced two major challenges. The first was linked to unfortunate and extended laboratory closures due to building renovation, which disrupted NHRF’s experimental work. Nevertheless, they were well mitigated by securing temporary access to external laboratory facilities and through close coordination with consortium partners. As a result, the critical tasks were completed successfully despite short delays.
The second challenge was faced when NHRF’s team attempted to integrate endohedral metallofullerenes into MOFs, which did not yield stable hybrids, due to limited compatibility with the selected MOF platforms. The researchers therefore refocused their efforts on more robust and scalable nanocarbon systems, which ultimately enabled the successful achievement of the WP’s objectives.
The pursuit of MOF2H2 project significantly strengthened NHRF Theoretical and Physical Chemistry Institute’s expertise in hybrid material engineering at the MOF-nanocarbon interface, particularly in post-synthetic modification strategies and advanced spectroscopic characterization.
Moreover, the project expanded NHRF’s European research network and allowed for a close collaboration with leading academic partners. NHRF reinforced its role as a reliable materials-development contributor in large consortia as well.
Finally, new methodologies, know-how and collaborative links established through MOF2H2 are already impacting future project proposals and follow-up research activities in photocatalysis and sustainable hydrogen technologies.
What comes next: building on MOF2H2’s legacy
As for NHRF, they intend to build on MOF2H2 outcomes in both research and external cooperation. Future research activities will be developing MOF-nanocarbon hybrid systems with enhanced control over interfacial charge-transfer pathways and catalytic selectivity. The main upcoming efforts shall be centred around refining functional nanocarbon architectures (while expanding their integration into next-generation MOFs) and on exploring related photo- and electro-chemical energy conversion processes.
As for external cooperation, the MOF2H2 consortium has provided a strong foundation for continued joint research and a basis for common future Horizon Europe proposal submissions.
In general, further research regarding MOFs in sun-driven clean hydrogen production should involve scaling up the most robust hybrid materials and integrating them into device-relevant photocatalytic configurations, while maintaining precise control over structure and composition. In parallel, researchers shall address long-term operational stability and performance (under realistic conditions) in order to bridge gap between laboratory demonstrations and practical hydrogen-production technologies.
At the same time, NHRF team believes that MOF2H2 might bring a visible impact on immediate scientific outputs. The most prominent effect the project could have would be in leaving a lasting impact by establishing design rules for hybrid photocatalysts. The project equally illustrated the importance of training the researchers in interdisciplinary materials development. Ultimately, the project’s impact can be translated through informing both academic research as well as longer-term technological strategies that would be aimed at sustainable energy generation.
Key recommendation and advice to organisations wishing to build up on MOF2H2
If a research institute or an industrial actor would like to capitalise on MOF2H2 project outcomes, they should, primarily, invest in materials reproducibility and interfacial design. It is less important to focus solely on individual component performance.
To get an effective hybrid photocatalysts, it is essential to carefully engineer interactions between MOFs and functional additives. Finally, early and open communication between partners working on synthesis, characterisation, and application is also essential for translating promising materials into functional systems more efficiently.
