Microporous organic nanorods with electronic push–pull skeletons for visible light-induced hydrogen evolution from water

This work shows that microporous organic network (MON) chemistry can be successfully applied for the development of a visible light-induced hydrogen production system. A visible light harvesting MON (VH-MON) was prepared by the Knoevenagel condensation of tri(4-formylphenyl)amine with [1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diacetonitrile. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed a 1D rod morphology of the VH-MON. Analysis of a N2 sorption isotherm showed a 474 m2 g−1 surface area and microporosity. Solid phase 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and infrared (IR) absorption spectroscopy, and elemental analysis support the expected network structure. The VH-MON showed visible light absorption in 400–530 nm and vivid emission at 542 nm. The HOMO and LUMO energy levels of the VH-MON were simulated at −5.1 and −2.4 eV, respectively, by density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The VH-MON/TiO2–Pt composite exhibited promising activity and enhanced stability as a photocatalytic system for visible light-induced hydrogen production from water.