Metal-organic frameworks, or MOFs, have become a popular topic in research due to their incredibly organized structure and porous properties, making them excellent candidates for guest-host interactions and catalysis. They have ample surface area confined to a small space, allowing for greater reactant proximity, and the organic linkers allow for tuning of the MOF’s properties.  MOFs are currently used in several different types of applications, but very little work has been conducted on their ability to serve as photocatalysts. This work will primarily focus on using MOFs as semiconductors for photocatalysis. This project focuses on developing a highly efficient photocatalyst for solar water electrolysis, specifically for hydrogen gas production. Here, it is discovered that UiO-type zirconium(IV) MOFs can be finely tuned for this purpose by making unique modifications, such as using water-rich acetonitrile solutions as a buffer. The results demonstrate that these modifications enhance the photocatalytic properties of the MOFs, making them ideal for solar water electrolysis.