Metalloporphyrin-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks on Flexible Carbon Paper for Electrocatalytic Nitrite Oxidation

Deposition of redox-active metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) as thin films on conductive substrates is of great importance to improve their electrochemical performance and durability. In this work, a series of metalloporphyrinic MOF crystals was successfully deposited as thin films on carbon fiber paper (CFP) substrates, which is an alternative to rigid glass substrates. The specific dimensions of the obtained films could be adjusted easily by simple cutting. Metalloporphyrinic MOFs on CFP with different active metal species have been employed for electrochemical conversion of the carcinogenic nitrite into the less toxic nitrate. The MOFs on CFP exhibit remarkable improvement in terms of the electrocatalytic performance and reusability compared with the electrodes prepared from MOF powder. The contribution from metal species of the porphyrin units and reaction mechanisms was elucidated based on the findings from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measured during the electrochemical reaction. By integrating the redox-active property of metalloporphyrinic MOFs and high conductivity of CFP, MOF thin films on CFP provided a significant improvement of electrocatalytic performance to detoxify the carcinogenic nitrite with good stability.