Iodine-templated assembly of unprecedented 3d-4f metal-organic frameworks as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation.

Unprecedented 3d-4f MOFs encapsulating infinite linear polyiodide chains were firstly reported using iodine molecules as a versatile precursor template. They possess high framework stability in acid/base aqueous solutions. The kinetics of iodine molecule release/recovery and UV-light photocatalytic H(2) evolution activities were investigated.