Hydrogen spillover through Matryoshka-type (ZIFs@)(n−1)ZIFs nanocubes

Hydrogen spillover phenomenon is well-documented in hydrogenation catalysis but still highly disputed in hydrogen storage. Until now, the existence of hydrogen spillover through metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) remains a topic of ongoing debate and how far the split hydrogen atoms diffuse in such materials is unknown. Herein we provide experimental evidence of the occurrence of hydrogen spillover in microporous MOFs at elevated temperatures, and the penetration depths of atomic hydrogen were measured quantitatively. We have made Matryoshka-type (ZIFs@)(n−1)ZIFs (where ZIFs = ZIF-8 or ZIF-67) nanocubes, together with Pt nanoparticles loaded on their external surfaces to produce atomic hydrogen. Within the (ZIFs@)(n−1)ZIFs, the ZIF-8 shell served as a ruler to measure the travelling distance of H atoms while the ZIF-67 core as a terminator of H atoms. In addition to the hydrogenolysis at normal pressure, CO(2) hydrogenation can also trace the migration of H atoms over the ZIF-8 at high pressure.