Improving Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production through Incorporating Copper to Organic Photosensitizers

Organic dyes have been investigated extensively as promising photosensitizers in noble-metal-free photocatalytic systems for hydrogen production. However, other than functional group optimization, there are very few methods reported to be effective in improving their photocatalytic activity. Herein, we report the incorporation of Cu2+ into purpurin and gallein dyes for visible-light-driven hydrogen production. These Cu–dye chromophores significantly promote the photocatalytic activity of homogeneous systems when paired with a series of molecular Ni or Fe catalysts. Under optimal conditions, the Cu–purpurin and Cu–gallein photosensitizers exhibit more than 20-fold increases in turnover frequencies for hydrogen evolution when compared with purpurin and gallein. Catalytic systems with the Cu–purpurin chromophore show no decrease in activity over 120 h. Based on electrochemical and fluorescence quenching experiments, the enhancement of photocatalytic activity is likely due to the fact that Cu2+ can facilitate the transfer of electrons from the photosensitizers to the catalysts through creating highly reducing centers.