Light-driven hydrogen production from aqueous solutions based on a new Dubois-type nickel catalyst

Abstract

In this work, we report a new photocatalytic system that links multifunctional semiconductor nanocrystals with emerging water-soluble molecular catalysts made of earth-abundant elements for H₂ generation [Ni(P₂^RN₂^R′)₂(BF₄)₂]⁴⁻, R = Ph, R′ = [PhSO₃]⁻ (NiS). This noble metal free hybrid exhibits remarkable catalytic activity with a turnover number of 511 for H₂ production and a photon-to-H₂ conversion efficiency of 12.5%. The mechanistic insight into such high efficiency in this photocatalytic system was examined using a combination of steady-state emission and time-resolved absorption spectroscopy.