Microenvironment regulation of active sites for efficient photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene

Abstract

Two manganese-based catalysts, Mn₄L₈ and Mn₄L₆, were synthesized to explore the influence of different metal coordination modes on photocatalytic activity. Crucially, the stronger Mn–O bonds in Mn₄L₆ hinder the generation of catalytically active sites—a limitation that is absent in Mn₄L₈ with its labile coordination bonds. This structural advantage enables Mn₄L₈ to achieve full conversion in the model photocatalytic reduction of nitrobenzene to aniline. Our findings establish a structure–activity paradigm for engineering highly active photocatalysts through rational coordination environment control.