Interfacial charge transfer-engineered MOF-derived Ni/Fe3O4/C for dual-functional pollutant degradation and water splitting

Ashok S.; Kumaresan N.; Souza H.C.D.; Senthilnathan S.; Cohaila A.B.Q.; Ganesh V. · Surfaces and Interfaces (2026) · DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2026.110476

Resumen

The growing demand for sustainable energy and effective wastewater treatment has driven the search for integrated solutions. The direct use of wastewater for hydrogen production is an emerging strategy for circular energy-environmental systems. In this work, a MOF-derived Ni/Fe3O4/C nanocomposite, obtained from MIL-88A(Fe), is designed as a bifunctional catalyst for photocatalytic and electrocatalytic applications. The micro-nano structured Fe3O4/C framework provides a conductive carbon network and abundant Fe2+/Fe3+ redox centers, while Ni incorporation enhances interfacial charge transfer and catalytic activity. The Ni/Fe3O4/C catalyst exhibits stable electrocatalytic performance in alkaline media, requiring overpotentials of 283 mV for hydrogen evolution and 485 mV for oxygen evolution at a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Under natural sunlight irradiation, the catalyst achieves 91.5% degradation of methylene blue, attributed to improved light absorption and suppressed charge recombination. Notably, the treated dye solution is directly reutilized as an electrolyte for water splitting, maintaining effective HER and OER activity. This demonstrates a practical pathway for coupling pollutant removal with hydrogen generation. The enhanced bifunctional performance arises from the synergistic interaction between Ni active sites, Fe2+/Fe3+ redox cycling, and the conductive carbon matrix, which collectively facilitate efficient charge separation and transport. This work provides a simple and scalable strategy for designing MOF-derived bifunctional catalysts, offering a viable route toward integrated wastewater treatment and renewable hydrogen production.

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional Jorge Basadre Grohmann