Graphitic C3N4 Decorated with CoP Co‐catalyst: Enhanced and Stable Photocatalytic H2 Evolution Activity from Water under Visible‐light Irradiation

In this work, graphitic C₃N₄ decorated with a CoP co‐catalyst (g‐C₃N₄/CoP) is reported for photocatalytic H₂ evolution reaction based on two‐step hydrothermal and phosphidation method. The structure of g‐C₃N₄/CoP is well confirmed by XRD, FTIR, TEM, XPS, and UV/Vis diffuse reflection spectra techniques. When the weight percentage of CoP loading is 3.4 wt % (g‐C₃N₄/CoP‐3.4 %), the highest H₂ evolution amount of 8.4×10² μmol g⁻¹ is obtained, which is 1.1×10³ times than that over pure g‐C₃N₄. This value also is comparable with that of g‐C₃N₄ loaded by the same amount of Pt. In cycling experiments, g‐C₃N₄/CoP‐3.4 % shows a stable photocatalytic activity. In addition, g‐C₃N₄/CoP‐3.4 % is an efficient photocatalyst for H₂ evolution under irradiation with natural solar light. Based on comparative photoluminescence emission spectra, photoelectrochemical I –t curves, EIS Nyquist plots, and polarization curves between g‐C₃N₄/CoP‐3.4 % and pure g‐C₃N₄, it is concluded that the presence of the CoP co‐catalyst accelerates the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons of g‐C₃N₄, thus resulting in improved photocatalytic activity in the H₂ evolution reaction.     

Stacking‐Layer‐Number Dependence of Water Adsorption in 3D Ordered Close‐Packed g‐C3N4 Nanosphere Arrays for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Water adsorption capacity is a key factor to influence the photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of polymeric g‐C₃N₄ . Herein, we report the synthesis of 3D ordered close‐packed g‐C₃N₄ nanosphere arrays (CNAs) that significantly enhance the water adsorption capacity. Through precisely controlling the average stacking‐layer number (ASLN) of the nanospheres in CNAs, we reveal an interesting stacking‐layer‐number dependence of water adsorption in the newly designed CNAs for accelerating the H₂ evolution reaction, which can be attributed to the differences in adsorption surface areas and adsorption sites endowed by the point‐defect cavities in sample CNAs.     

Carbonyl‐Grafted g‐C3N4 Porous Nanosheets for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Carbonyl‐grafted g‐C₃N₄ porous nanosheets (COCNPNS) were fabricated by means of a two‐step thermal process using melamine and oxalic acid as starting reagents. The combination of melamine with oxalic acid to form a melamine–oxalic acid supramolecule as a precursor is key to synthesizing carbonyl‐grafted g‐C₃N₄. The bulk carbonyl‐grafted g‐C₃N₄ (COCN) was further thermally etched onto porous nanosheets by O₂ under air. In such a process, the carbonyl groups were partly removed and the obtained sample showed remarkably enhanced visible‐light harvesting and promoted the separation and transfer of photogenerated electrons and holes. With its unique porous structure and enhanced light‐harvesting capability, under visible‐light illumination (λ >420 nm) the prepared COCNPNS exhibited a superior photocatalytic hydrogen evolution rate of 83.6 μmol h⁻¹, which is 26 times that of the p‐CN obtained directly from thermal polycondensation of melamine.     

CoxP/Hollow Porous C3N4 as Highly Efficient Schottky Contact Photocatalyst for H2 Evolution from Water Splitting

Photocatalytic water splitting to obtain hydrogen energy can transform low-density solar to high density, new and clean energy in a clean way, which is one of the ideal ways to solve the energy crisis and environmental pollution. In this paper, The Co_xP/hollow porous C₃N₄ composite photocatalytic material was synthesized by simple methods. The photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of Co_xP/hollow porous C₃N₄ reaches 1602 μmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 151 times of that of pure C₃N₄. The reasons for the high photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of Co_xP/hollow porous C₃N₄ could be summarized as follows: (1) the hollow and porous structure of C₃N₄ shows higher light capture efficiency, larger specific surface area and more surface active sites. (2) metalloid Co_xP loaded forms the Schottky contact with C₃N₄, which improves the photogenerated charges separation efficiency of C₃N₄, prolongs the photogenerated charges lifetime and improves the photocatalytic H₂ evolution activity of C₃N₄. (3) The higher conductivity of metalloid Co_xP and the lower overpotential of hydrogen production are other reasons for the higher activity of photocatalytic hydrogen production of Co_xP/hollow porous C₃N₄. This work provides an important role for the design of efficient, stable, and efficient construction of photocatalysts for solar energy conversion.     

trans‐Bis­(di­methyl­glyoximato‐κ2N,N′)­(1‐hexenyl)(pyridine‐κN)­cobalt(III): a cobaloxime‐substituted terminal alkene that rapidly isomerizes to a cobaloxime‐substituted internal alkenyl complex

An unusual cobaloxime‐substituted terminal alkene, [Co(C₆H₁₁)(C₄H₇N₂O₂)₂(C₅H₅N)], has been isolated and characterized by X‐ray crystallography. The double bond in the alkene readily isomerizes, but the title compound could be isolated and structurally characterized at low temperature.     

Preparation of new 2‐amino‐ and 2,3‐diamino‐pyridine trifluoroacetyl enamine derivatives and their application to the synthesis of trifluoromethyl‐containing 3H‐pyrido[2,3‐b][1,4] diazepinols

The synthesis of a novel series of the intermediates N²(N³)‐[1‐alkyl(aryl/heteroaryl)‐3‐oxo‐4,4,4‐trifluoroalk‐1‐en‐1‐yl]‐2‐aminopyridines [F₃CC(O)CH?CR¹(2? NH?C₅H₃N)] and 2,3‐diaminopyridines [F₃CC(O)CH?CR¹(2‐NH₂‐3‐NH? C₅H₃N)], where R¹ = H, Me, C₆H₅, 4‐FC₆H₄, 4‐CIC₆H₄, 4‐BrC₆H₄, 4‐CH₃C₆H₄, 4‐OCH₃C₆H₄, 4,4′‐biphenyl, 1‐naphthyl, 2‐thienyl, 2‐furyl, is reported. The corresponding series of 2‐aryl(heteroaryl)‐4‐trifluoromethyl‐3H‐pyrido[2,3‐b][1,4]diazepin‐4‐ols obtained from intramolecular cyclization reaction of the respective trifluoroacetyl enamines or from the direct cyclocondensation reaction of 4‐methoxy‐1,1,1‐trifluoroalk‐3‐en‐2‐ones with 2,3‐diaminopyridine, under mild conditions, is also reported.     

CdS nanospheres hybridized with graphitic C3N4 for effective photocatalytic hydrogen generation under visible light irradiation

Graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄)‐based photocatalysts have received considerable attention in the field of photocatalysis, especially for photocatalytic H₂ evolution. However, the intrinsic disadvantages of g‐C₃N₄ seriously limit its practical application. Herein, CdS nanospheres with an average diameter of 135 nm prepared using a solvothermal method were used as co‐catalysts to form CdS/g‐C₃N₄ composites (CSCN) to enhance the photocatalytic activity. Various techniques were employed to characterize the structure, composition and optical properties of the as‐prepared samples. It was found that the CdS nanospheres were relatively uniformly dispersed on the surface of g‐C₃N₄. Moreover, the photocatalytic H₂ generation activity of the samples was evaluated using lactic acid as sacrificial reagent in water under visible light irradiation. When the amount of CdS nanospheres loaded in the hybridized composites was 5 wt%, the optimal H₂ evolution rate reached 924 μmol g^?1 h^?1, which was approximately 1.4 times higher than that (680 μmol g^?1 h^?1) of Pt/g‐C₃N₄ (3 wt%). Based on the results of analysis, a possible mechanism for the photocatalytic activity of CSCN is proposed tentatively.     

Facile one‐step synthesis of broken case‐like carbon‐doped g‐C3N4 for photocatalytic degradation of benzene

Herein, a novel broken case‐like carbon‐doped g‐C₃N₄ photocatalyst was obtained via a facile one‐pot pyrolysis and cost‐effective method using glyoxal‐modified melamine as a precursor. The obtained carbon/g‐C₃N₄ photocatalyst showed remarkable enhanced photocatalytic activity in the degradation of gaseous benzene compared with that of pristine g‐C₃N₄ under visible light. The pseudo‐first‐order rate constant for gaseous benzene degradation on carbon/g‐C₃N₄ was 0.186 hr^?1, 5.81 times as large as that of pristine g‐C₃N₄. Furthermore, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for the improved photocatalytic performance over carbon/g‐C₃N₄ nanocomposites was proposed.     

Seven 5‐benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazoles: unexpected isomorphisms,and hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular structures in zero,one and two dimensions

5‐Benzylamino‐3‐tert‐butyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₃N₃, (I), and its 5‐[4‐(trifluoromethyl)benzyl]‐, C₂₁H₂₂F₃N₃, (III), and 5‐(4‐bromobenzyl)‐, C₂₀H₂₂BrN₃, (V), analogues, are isomorphous in the space group C2/c, but not strictly isostructural; molecules of (I) form hydrogen‐bonded chains, while those of (III) and (V) form hydrogen‐bonded sheets, albeit with slightly different architectures. Molecules of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐methylbenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₁H₂₅N₃, (II), are linked into hydrogen‐bonded dimers by a combination of N—H...π(arene) and C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds, while those of 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐chlorobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂ClN₃, (IV), form hydrogen‐bonded chains of rings which are themselves linked into sheets by an aromatic π–π stacking interaction. Simple hydrogen‐bonded chains built from a single N—H...O hydrogen bond are formed in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(4‐nitrobenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₀H₂₂N₄O₂, (VI), while in 3‐tert‐butyl‐5‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzylamino)‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazole, C₂₃H₂₉N₃O₃, (VII), which crystallizes with Z′ = 2 in the space group P, pairs of molecules are linked into two independent centrosymmetric dimers, one generated by a three‐centre N—H...(O)₂ hydrogen bond and the other by a two‐centre N—H...O hydrogen bond.     

The Astounding Chemistry of a 2‐Amino‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline Derivative

The cycloadducts of isoquinolinium N‐phenyl imide 2 with C=C bonds are derivatives of 2‐amino‐1,2‐dihydroisoquinoline. Their N^β‐vinylphenylhydrazine system is amenable to an acid‐catalyzed [3,3]‐sigmatropic shift; the formation of pentacyclic aminals is exemplified by 6 → 8 . The dimethyl maleate adduct 11 , C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄, is exceptional by being converted on treatment with acid to bright‐yellow crystals, C₂₄H₂₂N₂O₆ (additional C₃H₂O₂). X‐Ray crystal‐structure analysis and NMR spectra reveal structure 13 , and mechanistic studies indicated an initial β‐elimination at the N−N bond of 11 to yield 18 ; this step is followed by a retro‐Mannich‐type cleavage that gives methyl isoquinoline‐1‐acetate ( 14 ) and methyl 2‐(phenylimino)acetate ( 15 ), according to the sequence C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄ ( 11 )→ 18 →C₁₂H₁₁NO₂ ( 14 )+C₉H₉NO₂ ( 15 ). In the second act of the drama, electrophilic attack by 15 ‐H⁺ on the ene‐hydrazine group of a second molecule of 11 furnishes 13 by a polystep intramolecular redox reaction. All rate constants must be fine‐tuned in this reaction cascade to give 13 in yields of up to 78% with an overall stoichiometry: 2 C₂₁H₂₀N₂O₄ ( 11 )→C₂₄H₂₂N₂O₆ ( 13 )+C₁₂H₁₁NO₂ ( 14 )+aniline. Interception and model experiments confirmed the above pathway. A by‐product, C₃₃H₃₁N₃O₆ ( 62 ), arises from an acid‐catalyzed dimerization of 11 and subsequent elimination of 15 .     

Synthesis of Ordered Porous Graphitic‐C3N4 and Regularly Arranged Ta3N5 Nanoparticles by Using Self‐Assembled Silica Nanospheres as a Primary Template

Uniform‐sized silica nanospheres (SNSs) assembled into close‐packed structures were used as a primary template for ordered porous graphitic carbon nitride (g‐C₃N₄), which was subsequently used as a hard template to generate regularly arranged Ta₃N₅ nanoparticles of well‐controlled size. Inverse opal g‐C₃N₄ structures with the uniform pore size of 20–80 nm were synthesized by polymerization of cyanamide and subsequent dissolution of the SNSs with an aqueous HF solution. Back‐filling of the C₃N₄ pores with tantalum precursors, followed by nitridation in an NH₃ flow gave regularly arranged, crystalline Ta₃N₅ nanoparticles that are connected with each other. The surface areas of the Ta₃N₅ samples were as high as 60 m² g⁻¹, and their particle size was tunable from 20 to 80 nm, which reflects the pore size of g‐C₃N₄. Polycrystalline hollow nanoparticles of Ta₃N₅ were also obtained by infiltration of a reduced amount of the tantalum source into the g‐C₃N₄ template. An improved photocatalytic activity for H₂ evolution on the assembly of the Ta₃N₅ nanoparticles under visible‐light irradiation was attained as compared with that on a conventional Ta₃N₅ bulk material with low surface area.     

Eight new crystal structures of 5‐(hydroxymethyl)uracil, 5‐carboxyuracil and 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil: insights into the hydrogen‐bonded networks and the predominant conformations of the C5‐bound residues

In order to examine the preferred hydrogen‐bonding pattern of various uracil derivatives, namely 5‐(hydroxymethyl)uracil, 5‐carboxyuracil and 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil, and for a conformational study, crystallization experiments yielded eight different structures: 5‐(hydroxymethyl)uracil, C₅H₆N₂O₃, (I), 5‐carboxyuracil–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1), C₅H₄N₂O₄·C₃H₇NO, (II), 5‐carboxyuracil–dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1), C₅H₄N₂O₄·C₂H₆OS, (III), 5‐carboxyuracil–N,N‐dimethylacetamide (1/1), C₅H₄N₂O₄·C₄H₉NO, (IV), 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil–N,N‐dimethylformamide (1/1), C₅H₄N₂O₃S·C₃H₇NO, (V), 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil–dimethyl sulfoxide (1/1), C₅H₄N₂O₃S·C₂H₆OS, (VI), 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil–1,4‐dioxane (2/3), 2C₅H₄N₂O₃S·3C₆H₁₂O₃, (VII), and 5‐carboxy‐2‐thiouracil, C₁₀H₈N₄O₆S₂, (VIII). While the six solvated structures, i.e. (II)–(VII), contain intramolecular S(6) O—H…O hydrogen‐bond motifs between the carboxy and carbonyl groups, the usually favoured R₂²(8) pattern between two carboxy groups is formed in the solvent‐free structure, i.e. (VIII). Further R₂²(8) hydrogen‐bond motifs involving either two N—H…O or two N—H…S hydrogen bonds were observed in three crystal structures, namely (I), (IV) and (VIII). In all eight structures, the residue at the ring 5‐position shows a coplanar arrangement with respect to the pyrimidine ring which is in agreement with a search of the Cambridge Structural Database for six‐membered cyclic compounds containing a carboxy group. The search confirmed that coplanarity between the carboxy group and the cyclic residue is strongly favoured.     

Six closely related 4,6‐disubstituted 2‐amino‐5‐formylpyrimidines: different ring conformations,polarized electronic structures,and hydrogen‐bonded assembly in zero,one, two and three dimensions

In each of ethyl N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (I), N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinamide, C₁₄H₁₆N₆O₂, (II), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]pyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₇H₂₁N₅O₃, (III), the pyrimidine ring is effectively planar, but in each of methyl N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}glycinate, C₁₆H₁₉N₅O₃, (IV), ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐{2‐amino‐6‐[benzyl(methyl)amino]‐5‐formylpyrimidin‐4‐yl}propionate, C₁₈H₂₃N₅O₃, (V), and ethyl 3‐amino‐N‐[2‐amino‐5‐formyl‐6‐(piperidin‐4‐yl)pyrimidin‐4‐yl]propionate, C₁₅H₂₃N₅O₃, (VI), the pyrimidine ring is folded into a boat conformation. The bond lengths in each of (I)–(VI) provide evidence for significant polarization of the electronic structure. The molecules of (I) are linked by paired N—H...N hydrogen bonds to form isolated dimeric aggregates, and those of (III) are linked by a combination of N—H...N and N—H...O hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge‐fused rings. In the structure of (IV), molecules are linked into sheets by means of two hydrogen bonds, both of N—H...O type, in the structure of (V) by three hydrogen bonds, two of N—H...N type and one of C—H...O type, and in the structure of (VI) by four hydrogen bonds, all of N—H...O type. Molecules of (II) are linked into a three‐dimensional framework structure by a combination of three N—H...O hydrogen bonds and one C—H...O hydrogen bond.     

A new two‐dimensional CoII coordination polymer based on bis[4‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)phenyl] ether and biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyldicarboxylic acid: synthesis,crystal structure and photocatalytic degradation activity

A novel two‐dimensional Co^II coordination framework, namely poly[(μ₂‐biphenyl‐4,4′‐diyldicarboxylato‐κ²O⁴:O^4′){μ₂‐bis[4‐(2‐methyl‐1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)phenyl] ether‐κ²N³:N^3′}cobalt(II)], [Co(C₁₄H₈O₄)(C₂₀H₁₈N₄O)]_n, has been prepared and characterized by IR, elemental analysis, thermal analysis and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. The crystal structure reveals that the compound has an achiral two‐dimensional layered structure based on opposite‐handed helical chains. In addition, it exhibits significant photocatalytic degradation activity for the degradation of methylene blue.     

分级孔结构g-C3N4光催化剂的制备及性能

以单分散SiO2为模板,通过简单的一步煅烧法制备具有分级孔结构的g-C3N4。与体相g-C3N4相比,分级孔结构的g-C3N4不仅可见光吸收性能和比表面积得到提高,而且更有利于光生电子-空穴的分离。此外,具有分级孔结构的g-C3N4具有明显增强的可见光驱动的光催化产氢活性,当SiO2和二氰二胺质量比为1∶1时,制备所得g-C3N4(C3N4-2)产氢速率几乎是体相g-C3N4的18倍。     

4‐(2‐Hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine and the 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐, 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐ and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐substituted derivatives

The 1,5‐benzodiazepine ring system exhibits a puckered boat‐like conformation for all four title compounds [4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2‐phenyl‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₁H₁₈N₂O, (I), 2‐(2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (II), 2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (III), and 2‐(2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐4‐(2‐hydroxyphenyl)‐2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐1,5‐benzodiazepine, C₂₃H₂₂N₂O₃, (IV)]. The stereochemical correlation of the two C₆ aromatic groups with respect to the benzodiazepine ring system is pseudo‐equatorial–equatorial for compounds (I) (the phenyl group), (II) (the 2,3‐dimethoxyphenyl group) and (III) (the 3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl group), while for (IV) (the 2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl group) the system is pseudo‐axial–equatorial. An intramolecular hydrogen bond between the hydroxyl OH group and a benzodiazepine N atom is present for all four compounds and defines a six‐membered ring, whose geometry is constant across the series. Although the molecular structures are similar, the supramolecular packing is different; compounds (I) and (IV) form chains, while (II) forms dimeric units and (III) displays a layered structure. The packing seems to depend on at least two factors: (i) the nature of the atoms defining the hydrogen bond and (ii) the number of intermolecular interactions of the types O—H...O, N—H...O, N—H...π(arene) or C—H...π(arene).     

Rietveld refinement of the cocrystal 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid–N′‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)nicotinohydrazide (1/1)

A further example of using a covalent‐bond‐forming reaction to alter supramolecular assembly by modification of hydrogen‐bonding possibilities is presented. This concept was introduced by Lemmerer, Bernstein & Kahlenberg [CrystEngComm (2011), 13 , 55–59]. The title structure, C₉H₁₁N₃O·C₇H₆O₄, which consists of a reacted niazid molecule, viz.N′‐(propan‐2‐ylidene)nicotinohydrazide, and 2,4‐dihydroxybenzoic acid, was solved from powder diffraction data using simulated annealing. The results further demonstrate the relevance and utility of powder diffraction as an analytical tool in the study of cocrystals and their hydrogen‐bond interactions.     

cis‐(6RS,13RS)‐3,3,10,10‐Tetra­methyl‐6,13‐diphenyl‐1,8‐dioxa‐4,11‐diaza­cyclo­tetra­decane‐2,5,9,12‐tetra­one and two of its precursors

The title macrocycle, C₂₆H₃₀N₂O₆, (VI), was obtained by `direct amide cyclization' from the linear precursor 3‐hydr­oxy‐N‐[1‐methyl‐1‐(N‐methyl‐N‐phenyl­carbamoyl)ethyl]‐2‐phenylpropanamide, the N‐methyl­anilide of rac‐2‐methyl‐2‐[(3‐hydroxy‐2‐phenyl­propanoyl)­amino]­propanoic acid, C₁₃H₁₇NO₄, (IV). The reaction proceeds via the inter­mediate rac‐2‐(2‐hydroxy‐1‐phenyl­ethyl)‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1,3‐oxazol‐5(4H)‐one, C₁₃H₁₅NO₃, (V), which was synthesized independently and whose structure was also established. Unlike all previously described analogues, the title macrocycle has the cis‐diphenyl configuration. The 14‐membered ring has a distorted rect­angular diamond‐based [3434] configuration and inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into a three‐dimensional framework. The propanoic acid precursor forms a complex series of inter­molecular hydrogen bonds, each of which involves pairwise association of mol­ecules and which together result in the formation of extended two‐dimensional sheets. The oxazole inter­mediate forms centrosymmetric hydrogen‐bonded dimers in the solid state.     

A novel three‐dimensional zinc(II) coordination polymer based on 3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene: synthesis,crystal structure and photocatalytic properties

A novel three‐dimensional (3D) Zn^II coordination polymer, namely, poly[[[1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene](μ₃‐3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoato)zinc(II)] 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene], {[Zn(C₂₂H₁₆O₆)(C₁₆H₁₂N₂)]·C₁₆H₁₂N₂}_n or {[Zn(PMBD)(DPB)]·DPB}_n, 1 , where H₂PMBD is 3,3′‐{[1,3‐phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(oxy)}dibenzoic acid and DPB is 1,4‐bis(pyridin‐4‐yl)benzene, has been synthesized by self‐assembly using zinc nitrate, a semi‐rigid dicarboxylic acid and a nitrogen‐containing ligand. The single‐crystal X‐ray structure determination indicates that 1 possesses an intriguing 3D architecture with a 4‐connected uninodal cds topology, which is constructed from dinuclear {Zn₂} clusters and V‐shaped PMBD^2? linkers. Compound 1 exhibits excellent photocatalytic activity on the degradation of the organic dyes Rhodamine B (RhB), Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) and Methyl Red (MR).     

Atomic‐Level Insight into Optimizing the Hydrogen Evolution Pathway over a Co1‐N4 Single‐Site Photocatalyst

Knowledge of the photocatalytic H₂ evolution mechanism is of great importance for designing active catalysts toward a sustainable energy supply. An atomic‐level insight, design, and fabrication of single‐site Co₁‐N₄ composite as a prototypical photocatalyst for efficient H₂ production is reported. Correlated atomic characterizations verify that atomically dispersed Co atoms are successfully grafted by covalently forming a Co₁‐N₄ structure on g‐C₃N₄ nanosheets by atomic layer deposition. Different from the conventional homolytic or heterolytic pathway, theoretical investigations reveal that the coordinated donor nitrogen increases the electron density and lowers the formation barrier of key Co hydride intermediate, thereby accelerating H–H coupling to facilitate H₂ generation. As a result, the composite photocatalyst exhibits a robust H₂ production activity up to 10.8 μmol h⁻¹, 11 times higher than that of pristine counterpart.