Preparation of ZIF-8 particles via solvent thermal synthesis and investigation of their photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance

Abstract

In recent years, the preparation and application of ZIF-8 nanoparticles have garnered interest, yet systematic studies on the relationship between their size and photocatalytic hydrogen generation performance remain limited. Addressing this gap, the present study pioneers an in-depth exploration of the preparation of ZIF-8 nanoparticles, emphasizing their impact on photocatalytic hydrogen generation. A novel observation was made, where uniform ZIF-8 particles of approximately 1 micron were optimally synthesized at a molar ratio of zinc acetate to dimethylimidazole of 1:4. Interestingly, the study unveiled a unique trend of ZIF-8 particle size variation with changing reaction temperatures. Most notably, and for the first time, this research underscores the paramount role of particle size on ZIF-8’s hydrogen generation capability, connecting it intricately to the material’s pore characteristics. An unprecedented finding was the superior performance of the 500 nanometer-sized ZIF-8 in photocatalytic hydrogen generation, attributing its excellence to its pore size being finely attuned to the photocatalytic reaction requirements. Such groundbreaking insights not only deepen our comprehension of ZIF-8 materials but also hold transformative potential for the international engineering community, particularly in tailoring applications for enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen generation.