Tethered sensitizer–catalyst noble-metal-free molecular devices for solar-driven hydrogen generation

Abstract

Inspired by natural photosynthesis in an organized assembly, compact H₂-evolving molecular devices, which tether sensitizer and catalyst modules in one single molecule, present an opportunity to overcome the diffusion limit required for multi-component molecular systems, and increase intramolecular electron transfer rates from the photoactivated unit to the catalytic center to improve H₂-evolving efficiency. Thereinto absolutely noble-metal free H₂-evolving molecular devices are of particular interest because they don't contain precious and scarce noble-metal based components. This Frontier article focuses specifically on the recent advances in the design, synthesis, and photocatalytic properties of all-abundant-element molecular devices for photoinduced H₂ generation via intramolecular processes. Some challenges and suggestions for future directions in this field are also illustrated.