Tin(II)-Based Metal–Organic Frameworks Enabling Efficient, Selective Reduction of CO ₂ to Formate under Visible Light

Yoshinobu Kamakura, Chomponoot Suppaso, Issei Yamamoto, Ryusuke Mizuochi, Yusuke Asai, Teruki Motohashi, Daisuke Tanaka, Kazuhiko Maeda

Certain metal complexes are known as high-performance CO₂ reduction photocatalysts driven by visible light. However, most of them rely on rare, precious metals as principal components, and integrating the functions of light absorption and catalysis into a single molecular unit based on abundant metals remains a challenge. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which can be regarded as intermediate compounds between molecules and inorganic solids, are potential platforms for the construction of a simple photocatalytic system composed only of Earth-abundant nontoxic elements. In this work, we report that a tin-based MOF enables the conversion of CO₂ into formic acid with a record high apparent quantum yield (9.8 % at 400 nm) and >99 % selectivity without the need for any additional photosensitizer or catalyst. This work highlights a new MOF with strong potential for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction driven by solar energy.

Press release

Angewandte Chemie International Edition , in press. DOI: 10.1002/anie.202305923