Syntheses, characterization, and photo-hydrogen-evolving properties of tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(II) derivatives tethered to an H2-evolving (2-phenylpyridinato)platinum(II) unit

Ruthenium Assemblies for CO2 Reduction and H2 Generation: Time Resolved Infrared Spectroscopy, Spectroelectrochemistry and a Photocatalysis Study in Solution and on NiO

Two novel supramolecular complexes RuRe ([Ru(dceb)₂(bpt)Re(CO)₃Cl](PF₆)) and RuPt ([Ru(dceb)₂(bpt)PtI(H₂O)](PF₆)₂) [dceb = diethyl(2,2′-bipyridine)-4,4′-dicarboxylate, bpt = 3,5-di(pyridine-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazolate] were synthesized as new catalysts for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction and H₂ evolution, respectively. The influence of the catalytic metal for successful catalysis in solution and on a NiO semiconductor was examined. IR-active handles in the form of carbonyl groups on the peripheral ligand on the photosensitiser were used to study the excited states populated, as well as the one-electron reduced intermediate species using infrared and UV-Vis spectroelectrochemistry, and time resolved infrared spectroscopy. Inclusion of ethyl-ester moieties led to a reduction in the LUMO energies on the peripheral bipyridine ligand, resulting in localization of the ³MLCT excited state on these peripheral ligands following excitation. RuPt generated hydrogen in solution and when immobilized on NiO in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell. RuRe was inactive as a CO₂ reduction catalyst in solution, and produced only trace amounts of CO when the photocatalyst was immobilized on NiO in a PEC cell saturated with CO₂.

Shedding Light on the Nature of Photoinduced States Formed in a Hydrogen-Generating Supramolecular RuPt Photocatalyst by Ultrafast Spectroscopy

Photoinduced electronic and structural changes of a hydrogen-generating supramolecular RuPt photocatalyst are studied by a combination of time-resolved photoluminescence, optical transient absorption, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. This work uses the element specificity of X-ray techniques to focus on the interplay between the photophysical and -chemical processes and the associated time scales at the catalytic Pt moiety. We observe very fast (<30 ps) photoreduction of the Pt catalytic site, followed by an ∼600 ps step into a strongly oxidized Pt center. The latter process is likely induced by oxidative addition of reactive iodine species. The oxidized Pt species is long-lived and fully recovers to the original ground state complex on a >10 μs time scale. However, the photosensitizing Ru moiety is fully restored on a much shorter ∼300 ns time scale. This reaction scheme implies that we may withdraw two electrons from a catalyst that is activated by a single photon.

Subtle Changes to Peripheral Ligands Enable High Turnover Numbers for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation with Supramolecular Photocatalysts

The photocatalytic generation of hydrogen (H2) from protons by two cyclometalated ruthenium-platinum polypyridyl complexes, [Ru(bpy)2(2,5-bpp)PtIS](2+) (1) and [Ru(dceb)2(2,5-bpp)PtIS](2+) (2) [where bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, 2,5-bpp = 2,2',5',2″-terpyridine, dceb = 4,4'-di(carboxyethyl)bipyridine, and S = solvent], is reported. Turnover numbers (TONs) for H2 generation were increased by nearly an order of magnitude by the introduction of carboxyethyl ester units, i.e., from 80 for 1P to 650 for 2P after 6 h of irradiation, with an early turnover frequency (TOF) increasing from 15 to 200 h(-1). The TON and TOF values for 2P are among the highest reported to date for supramolecular photocatalysts. The increase correlates with stabilization of the excited states localized on the peripheral ligands of the light-harvesting Ru(II) center.

A tricarboxylated PtCl(terpyridine) derivative exhibiting pH-dependent photocatalytic activity for H2 evolution from water

A ‘negatively charged’ PtCl(terpyridine) derivative was found to be the first example of a Pt(ii)-based molecular photocatalyst capable of driving H₂ evolution coupled with a PCET process at the ligand geometry.

Photo-induced reduction of CO2using a magnetically separable Ru-CoPc@TiO2@SiO2@Fe3O4catalyst under visible light irradiation

An efficient photo-induced reduction of CO₂using magnetically separable Ru-CoPc@TiO₂@SiO₂@Fe₃O₄as a heterogeneous catalyst in which CoPc and Ru(bpy)₂phene complexes were attached to a solid supportviacovalent attachment under visible light is described.