Synthesis of palladium–carbon nanotube–metal organic framework composite and its application as electrocatalyst for hydrogen production

There are very rare reports on using metal–organic framework (MOF) catalysts for electrochemical hydrogen production. In this study, a composite of palladium, single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) and MOF-199 (Pd/SWCNTs@MOF-199) was synthesized by hydrothermal method, and its application as electrocatalyst in carbon paste electrode (CPE) structure for hydrogen production was studied. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and thermal gravimetric analysis were used to characterize Pd/SWCNTs@MOF-199 catalyst. The performance of the proposed modified CPE for electrochemical hydrogen production was studied by cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and chronoamperometry techniques. The effect of solution pH and the amount of binder and catalyst in the paste composition were investigated. The results showed that the CPE modified with Pd/SWCNTs@MOF-199 reveals better catalytic characteristics such as highest catalytic activity and lowest onset potential compared to CPE and CPE modified with MOF-199 for hydrogen production in aqueous solution.