Polymeric Carbon Nitride/Reduced Graphene Oxide/Fe2O3: All‐Solid‐State Z‐Scheme System for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

The charge transfer between hydrogen evolution photocatalysts (HEPs) and oxygen evolution photocatalysts (OEPs) is the rate‐determining step that controls the overall performance of a Z‐scheme water‐splitting system. Here, we carefully design reduced graphene oxide (RGO) nanosheets for use as solid‐state mediators to accelerate the charge carrier transfer between HEPs (e.g., polymeric carbon nitride (PCN)) and OEPs (e.g., Fe₂O₃), thus achieving efficient overall water splitting. The important role of RGO could also be further proven in other PCN‐based Z‐systems (BiVO₄/RGO/PCN and WO₃/RGO/PCN), illustrating the universality of this strategy.     

Design of Single‐Site Photocatalysts by Using Metal–Organic Frameworks as a Matrix

Single‐site photocatalysts generally display excellent photocatalytic activity and considerably high stability compared with homogeneous catalytic systems. A rational structural design of single‐site photocatalysts with isolated, uniform, and spatially separated active sites in a given solid is of prime importance to achieve high photocatalytic activity. Intense attention has been focused on the design and fabrication of single‐site photocatalysts by using porous materials as a platform. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have great potential in the design and fabrication of single‐site photocatalysts due to their remarkable porosity, ultrahigh surface area, extraordinary tailorability, and significant diversity. MOFs can provide an abundant number of binding sites to anchor active sites, which results in a significant enhancement in photocatalytic performance. In this focus review, the development of single‐site MOF photocatalysts that perform important and challenging chemical redox reactions, such as photocatalytic H₂ production, photocatalytic CO₂ conversion, and organic transformations, is summarized thoroughly. Successful strategies for the construction of single‐site MOF photocatalysts are summarized and major challenges in their practical applications are noted.     

Van der Waals Heterostructures Comprised of Ultrathin Polymer Nanosheets for Efficient Z‐Scheme Overall Water Splitting

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, Z‐scheme photocatalytic systems are very appealing for achieving efficient overall water splitting. Developing metal‐free Z‐scheme photocatalysts for overall water splitting, however, still remains challenging. The construction of polymer‐based van der Waals heterostructures as metal‐free Z‐scheme photocatalytic systems for overall water splitting is described using aza‐fused microporous polymers (CMP) and C₂N ultrathin nanosheets as O₂‐ and H₂‐evolving catalysts, respectively. Although neither polymer is able to split pure water using visible light, a 2:1 stoichiometric ratio of H₂ and O₂ was observed when aza‐CMP/C₂N heterostructures were used. A solar‐to‐hydrogen conversion efficiency of 0.23 % was determined, which could be further enhanced to 0.40 % by using graphene as the solid electron mediator to promote the interfacial charge‐transfer process. This study highlights the potential of polymer photocatalysts for overall water splitting.     

A Hydrogen‐Deficient Nickel–Cobalt Double Hydroxide for Photocatalytic Overall Water Splitting

Developing highly efficient and low‐cost photocatalysts for overall water splitting has long been a pursuit for converting solar power into clean hydrogen energy. Herein, we demonstrate that a nonstoichiometric nickel–cobalt double hydroxide can achieve overall water splitting by itself upon solar light irradiation, avoiding the consumption of noble‐metal co‐catalysts. We employed an intensive laser to ablate a NiCo alloy target immersed in alkaline solution, and produced so‐called L‐NiCo nanosheets with a nonstoichiometric composition and O^2?/Co³⁺ ions exposed on the surface. The nonstoichiometric composition broadens the band gap, while O^2? and Co³⁺ ions boost hydrogen and oxygen evolution, respectively. As such, the photocatalyst achieves a H₂ evolution rate of 1.7 μmol h^?1 under AM 1.5G sunlight irradiation and an apparent quantum yield (AQE) of 1.38 % at 380 nm.     

Two Bulky Conjugated 4′‐(4‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐4,2′:6′,4′′‐terpyridine‐based Layered Complexes: Synthesis,Structure, and Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution Activity

Two new layered complexes with the formulas of {[Cu(H₂O)(HL)₂Cl](NO₃)}_n ( 1 ) and {[Cu(H₂O)₂(HL)₂](NO₃)₂}_n ( 2 ) were solvothermally synthesized by the reactions of the bulky conjugated 4′‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)‐4,2′:6′,4′′‐terpyridine ligand (HL) with different Cu^II salts, which were further used as photocatalysts to achieve hydrogen production from water splitting. Single‐crystal structural analyses reveal that both complexes feature coplanar (4 4) layers with different connection manners between the HL extended Z‐shaped chains. More interestingly, 1 possessing more negative conduction band potential and higher structural stability exhibits a large hydrogen production rate of 2.43 mmol · g^–1 · h^–1, which is four times higher than that of 2 . Thus, the Cu^II‐based coordination polymers modified by the bulky conjugated organic ligand can become potentially promising non‐Pt photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water splitting.     

Revisiting the Limiting Factors for Overall Water‐Splitting on Organic Photocatalysts

In pursuit of inexpensive and earth abundant photocatalysts for solar hydrogen production from water, conjugated polymers have shown potential to be a viable alternative to widely used inorganic counterparts. The photocatalytic performance of polymeric photocatalysts, however, is very poor in comparison to that of inorganic photocatalysts. Most of the organic photocatalysts are active in hydrogen production only when a sacrificial electron donor (SED) is added into the solution, and their high performances often rely on presence of noble metal co‐catalyst (e.g. Pt). For pursuing a carbon neutral and cost‐effective green hydrogen production, unassisted hydrogen production solely from water is one of the critical requirements to translate a mere bench‐top research interest into the real world applications. Although this is a generic problem for both inorganic and organic types of photocatalysts, organic photocatalysts are mostly investigated in the half‐reaction, and have so far shown limited success in hydrogen production from overall water‐splitting. To make progress, this article exclusively discusses critical factors that are limiting the overall water‐splitting in organic photocatalysts. Additionally, we also have extended the discussion to issues related to stability, accurate reporting of the hydrogen production as well as challenges to be resolved to reach 10 % STH (solar‐to‐hydrogen) conversion efficiency.     

An Efficient,Visible‐Light‐Driven,Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst NiS/ZnxCd1−xS Nanocrystal Derived from a Metal–Organic Framework

Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production using sustainable sunlight is a promising alternative to industrial hydrogen production. However, the scarcity of highly active, recyclable, inexpensive photocatalysts impedes the development of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) schemes. Herein, a metal–organic framework (MOF)‐template strategy was developed to prepare non‐noble metal co‐catalyst/solid solution heterojunction NiS/Zn_xCd_1−xS with superior photocatalytic HER activity. By adjusting the doping metal concentration in MOFs, the chemical compositions and band gaps of the heterojunctions can be fine‐tuned, and the light absorption capacity and photocatalytic activity were further optimized. NiS/Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S exhibits an optimal HER rate of 16.78 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ and high stability and recyclability under visible‐light irradiation (λ>420 nm). Detailed characterizations and in‐depth DFT calculations reveal the relationship between the heterojunction and photocatalytic activity and confirm the importance of NiS in accelerating the water dissociation kinetics, which is a crucial factor for photocatalytic HER.     

Fullerol–Titania Charge‐Transfer‐Mediated Photocatalysis Working under Visible Light

The development of visible‐light‐active photocatalysts is being investigated through various approaches. In this study, C₆₀‐based sensitized photocatalysis that works through the charge transfer (CT) mechanism is proposed and tested as a new approach. By employing the water‐soluble fullerol (C₆₀(OH)_x) instead of C₆₀, we demonstrate that the adsorbed fullerol activates TiO₂ under visible‐light irradiation through the “surface–complex CT” mechanism, which is largely absent in the C₆₀/TiO₂ system. Although fullerene and its derivatives have often been utilized in TiO₂‐based photochemical conversion systems as an electron transfer relay, their successful photocatalytic application as a visible‐light sensitizer of TiO₂ is not well established. Fullerol/TiO₂ exhibits marked visible photocatalytic activity not only for the redox conversion of 4‐chlorophenol, I^?, and Cr^VI, but also for H₂ production. The photoelectrode of fullerol/TiO₂ also generates an enhanced anodic photocurrent under visible light as compared with the electrodes of bare TiO₂ and C₆₀/TiO₂, which confirms that the visible‐light‐induced electron transfer from fullerol to TiO₂ is particularly enhanced. The surface complexation of fullerol/TiO₂ induced a visible absorption band around 400–500 nm, which was extinguished when the adsorption of fullerol was inhibited by fluorination of the surface of TiO₂. The transient absorption spectroscopic measurement gave an absorption spectrum ascribed to fullerol radical cations (fullerol^.+) the generation of which should be accompanied by the proposed CT. The theoretical calculation regarding the absorption spectra for the (TiO₂ cluster+fullerol) model also confirmed the proposed CT, which involves excitation from HOMO (fullerol) to LUMO (TiO₂ cluster) as the origin of the visible‐light absorption.     

An Efficient,Visible‐Light‐Driven,Hydrogen Evolution Catalyst NiS/ZnxCd1−xS Nanocrystal Derived from a Metal–Organic Framework

Photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production using sustainable sunlight is a promising alternative to industrial hydrogen production. However, the scarcity of highly active, recyclable, inexpensive photocatalysts impedes the development of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) schemes. Herein, a metal–organic framework (MOF)‐template strategy was developed to prepare non‐noble metal co‐catalyst/solid solution heterojunction NiS/Zn_xCd_1?xS with superior photocatalytic HER activity. By adjusting the doping metal concentration in MOFs, the chemical compositions and band gaps of the heterojunctions can be fine‐tuned, and the light absorption capacity and photocatalytic activity were further optimized. NiS/Zn_0.5Cd_0.5S exhibits an optimal HER rate of 16.78 mmol g^?1 h^?1 and high stability and recyclability under visible‐light irradiation (λ>420 nm). Detailed characterizations and in‐depth DFT calculations reveal the relationship between the heterojunction and photocatalytic activity and confirm the importance of NiS in accelerating the water dissociation kinetics, which is a crucial factor for photocatalytic HER.     

Production of Hydrogen by Glycerol Photoreforming Using Binary Nitrogen–Metal‐Promoted N‐M‐TiO2 Photocatalysts

The need for renewable energy focuses attention on hydrogen obtained by using sustainable and green methods. The sustainable compound glycerol can be used for hydrogen production by heterogeneous photocatalysis. A novel approach involves the promotion of the TiO₂ photocatalyst with a binary combination of nitrogen and transition metal. We report the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of the new N‐M‐TiO₂ photocatalysts (M=none, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu), and the photocatalytic reforming of glycerol to hydrogen under ambient conditions and near‐UV or visible light versus benchmark P25 TiO₂. In units of activity μmol m^?2 h^?1, N‐Ni‐TiO₂ is five‐fold more active than P25, and N‐Cu‐TiO₂ is 44‐fold more active. The photocatalytic activity of N‐M‐TiO₂ increases from Cr to Co and Ni, whereas the photoluminescence decreases; the change in activity is due to the modulation of charge recombination.     

Round‐the‐Clock Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production with High Efficiency by a Long‐Afterglow Material

Long afterglow materials can store and release light energy after illumination. A brick‐like, micrometer‐sized Sr₂MgSi₂O₇:Eu²⁺,Dy³⁺ long‐afterglow material is used for hydrogen production by the photocatalytic reforming of methanol under round‐the‐clock conditions for the first time, achieving a solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 5.18 %. This material is one of the most efficient photocatalysts and provides the possibility of practical use on a large scale. Its remarkable photocatalytic activity is attributed to its unique carrier migration path and large number of lattice defects. These findings expand the application scope of long afterglow materials and provide a new strategy to design efficient photocatalysts by constructing trap levels that can prolong carrier lifetimes.     

Noble‐Metal‐Free Janus‐like Structures by Cation Exchange for Z‐Scheme Photocatalytic Water Splitting under Broadband Light Irradiation

Z‐scheme water splitting is a promising approach based on high‐performance photocatalysis by harvesting broadband solar energy. Its efficiency depends on the well‐defined interfaces between two semiconductors for the charge kinetics and their exposed surfaces for chemical reactions. Herein, we report a facile cation‐exchange approach to obtain compounds with both properties without the need for noble metals by forming Janus‐like structures consisting of γ‐MnS and Cu₇S₄ with high‐quality interfaces. The Janus‐like γ‐MnS/Cu₇S₄ structures displayed dramatically enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen production rates of up to 718 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ under full‐spectrum irradiation. Upon further integration with an MnO_x oxygen‐evolution cocatalyst, overall water splitting was accomplished with the Janus structures. This work provides insight into the surface and interface design of hybrid photocatalysts, and offers a noble‐metal‐free approach to broadband photocatalytic hydrogen production.     

(–)‐Dioxosantadienic acid: hydrogen‐bonding patterns in a bicyclic sesquiterpenoid keto acid and its mono­hydrate

The an­hydrous form, (I), of the title compound, (?)‐2‐(1,2,3,4,4a,7‐hexa­hydro‐4a,8‐di­methyl‐1,7‐dioxo‐2‐naphthyl)­propionic acid, C₁₅H₁₈O₄, derived from a naturally occurring sesquiterpenoid, has two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, (I) and (I′), differing in the conformations of the saturated ring and the carboxyl group. The compound aggregates as carboxyl‐to‐ketone hydrogen‐bonding catemers [O?O = 2.776 (3) and 2.775 (3) Å]. Two crystallographically independent sets of single‐strand hydrogen‐bonding helices with opposite end‐to‐end orientation pass through the cell in the b direction, one consisting exclusively of mol­ecules of (I) and the other entirely of (I′). Three C—H?O=C close contacts are found in (I). The monohydrate, C₁₅H₁₈O₄·H₂O, (II), with two mol­ecules of (I) plus two water mol­ecules in its asymmetric unit, forms a complex three‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonding network including acid‐to‐water, water‐to‐acid, water‐to‐ketone, water‐to‐water and acid‐to‐acid hydrogen bonds, plus three C—H?O=C close contacts. In both (I) and (II), only the ketone remote from the acid is involved in hydrogen bonding.     

Encapsulating Perovskite Quantum Dots in Iron‐Based Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs) for Efficient Photocatalytic CO2 Reduction

Improving the stability of lead halide perovskite quantum dots (QDs) in a system containing water is the key for their practical application in artificial photosynthesis. Herein, we encapsulate low‐cost CH₃NH₃PbI₃ (MAPbI₃) perovskite QDs in the pores of earth‐abundant Fe‐porphyrin based metal organic framework (MOF) PCN‐221(Fe_x) by a sequential deposition route, to construct a series of composite photocatalysts of MAPbI₃@PCN‐221(Fe_x) (x=0–1). Protected by the MOF the composite photocatalysts exhibit much improved stability in reaction systems containing water. The close contact of QDs to the Fe catalytic site in the MOF, allows the photogenerated electrons in the QDs to transfer rapidly the Fe catalytic sites to enhance the photocatalytic activity for CO₂ reduction. Using water as an electron source, MAPbI₃@PCN‐221(Fe_0.2) exhibits a record‐high total yield of 1559 μmol g^?1 for photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to CO (34 %) and CH₄ (66 %), 38 times higher than that of PCN‐221(Fe_0.2) in the absence of perovskite QDs.     

Hydrogen‐Bond Cooperativity in Formamide2–Water: A Model for Water‐Mediated Interactions

The rotational spectrum of formamide₂–H₂O formed in a supersonic jet has been characterized by Fourier‐transform microwave spectroscopy. This adduct provides a simple model of water‐mediated interaction involving the amide linkages, as occur in protein folding or amide‐association processes, showing the interplay between self‐association and solvation. Mono‐substituted ¹³C, ¹⁵N, ¹⁸O, and ²H isotopologues have been observed and their data used to investigate the structure. The adduct forms an almost planar three‐body sequential cycle. The two formamide molecules link on one side through an N?H???O hydrogen bond and on the other side through a water‐mediated interaction with the formation of C=O???H?O and O???H?N hydrogen bonds. The analysis of the quadrupole coupling effects of two ¹⁴N‐nuclei reveals the subtle inductive forces associated to cooperative hydrogen bonding. These forces are involved in the changes in the C=O and C?N bond lengths with respect to pure formamide.     

Highly Efficient Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from Water using Visible Light and Structure‐Controlled Graphitic Carbon Nitride

The major challenge of photocatalytic water splitting, the prototypical reaction for the direct production of hydrogen by using solar energy, is to develop low‐cost yet highly efficient and stable semiconductor photocatalysts. Herein, an effective strategy for synthesizing extremely active graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄) from a low‐cost precursor, urea, is reported. The g‐C₃N₄ exhibits an extraordinary hydrogen‐evolution rate (ca. 20 000 μmol h^?1 g^?1 under full arc), which leads to a high turnover number (TON) of over 641 after 6 h. The reaction proceeds for more than 30 h without activity loss and results in an internal quantum yield of 26.5 % under visible light, which is nearly an order of magnitude higher than that observed for any other existing g‐C₃N₄ photocatalysts. Furthermore, it was found by experimental analysis and DFT calculations that as the degree of polymerization increases and the proton concentration decreases, the hydrogen‐evolution rate is significantly enhanced.     

4‐Pyridone–terephthalic acid–water (2/1/2) and bis(3‐hydroxypyridinium) terephthalate

4‐Hydroxypyridine and terephthalic acid cocrystallize as a hydrate, 4‐pyridone–terephthalic acid–water (2/1/2), 2C₅H₅NO·C₈H₆O₄·2H₂O, from a methanol–water solution. The molecules form a two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded network resulting in sheets of hydrogen‐bonded molecules that lie parallel to the (10) plane. In contrast, 3‐hydroxypyridine and terephthalic acid form the salt bis(3‐hydroxypyridinium) terephthalate, 2C₅H₆NO⁺·C₈H₄O₄²⁻, giving rise to two‐dimensional hydrogen‐bonded sheets extending through the lattice parallel to the (10) plane.     

Boosting Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution over Metal–Organic Frameworks by Plasmon‐Induced Hot‐Electron Injection

Efficient hydrogen evolution via electrocatalytic water splitting holds great promise in modern energy devices. Herein, we demonstrate that the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation of Au nanorods (NRs) dramatically improves the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of CoFe‐metal–organic framework nanosheets (CoFe‐MOFNs), leading to a more than 4‐fold increase of current density at ?0.236 V (vs. RHE) for Au/CoFe‐MOFNs composite under light irradiation versus in dark. Mechanistic investigations reveal that the hydrogen evolution enhancement can be largely attributed to the injection of hot electrons from AuNRs to CoFe‐MOFNs, raising the Fermi level of CoFe‐MOFNs, facilitating the reduction of H₂O and affording decreased activation energy for HER. This study highlights the superiority of plasmonic excitation on improving electrocatalytic efficiency of MOFs and provides a novel avenue towards the design of highly efficient water‐splitting systems under light irradiation.     

Piperazine‐1,4‐diium–2,4‐dinitrophenolate–water (1/2/2)

In the title 1/2/2 adduct, C₄H₁₂N₂²⁺·2C₆H₃N₂O₅^?·2H₂O, the dication lies on a crystallographic inversion centre and the asymmetric unit also has one anion and one water mol­ecule in general positions. The 2,4‐di­nitro­phenolate anions and the water mol­ecules are linked by two O—H?O and two C—H?O hydrogen bonds to form molecular ribbons, which extend along the b direction. The piperazine dication acts as a donor for bifurcated N—H?O hydrogen bonds with the phenolate O atom and with the O atom of the o‐nitro group. Six symmetry‐related molecular ribbons are linked to a piperazine dication by N—H?O and C—H?O hydrogen bonds.     

A novel three‐dimensional framework constructed by 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole and infinite chains of hydrogen‐bonded water molecules

A novel three‐dimensional framework of 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)methyl]‐1H‐benzimidazole dihydrate, C₁₁H₁₀N₄·2H₂O or L·2H₂O, (I), in which L acts as both hydrogen‐bond acceptor and donor in the supramolecular construction with water, has been obtained by self‐assembly reaction of L with H₂O. The two independent water molecules are hydrogen bonded alternately with each other to form a one‐dimensional infinite zigzag water chain. These water chains are linked by the benzimidazole molecules into a three‐dimensional framework, in which each organic molecule is hydrogen bonded by three water molecules. This study shows that the diversity of hydrogen‐bonded patterns plays a crucial role in the formation of the three‐dimensional framework. More significantly, as water molecules are important in contributing to the conformation, stability, function and dynamics of biomacromolecules, the infinite chains of hydrogen‐bonded water molecules seen in (I) may be a useful model for water in other chemical and biological processes.