On-demand hydrogen production from formic acid by light-active dinuclear iridium catalysts

Abstract

Light-active dinuclear iridium pentahydride complexes catalyze the decomposition of formic acid to generate H₂ by irradiation (λ =395 nm) under ambient temperature and base-free conditions. The catalyst activity is sensitive to light producing H₂ under light irradiation, but with no reaction being observed in the absence of light or when the light is switched off, thereby demonstrating the clear ON/OFF switching ability of this system. Importantly, the dinuclear structure of the catalyst is sufficiently stable to be maintained under the catalytic conditions employed herein.