Pyridyl-Anchored Type BODIPY Sensitizer-TiO2 Photocatalyst for Enhanced Visible Light-Driven Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production

Xiao-Feng Shen,Tatsumi Ishihara,Motonori Watanabe,Atsushi Takagaki,Jun Tae Song

doi:10.3390/catal10050535

Abstract

Dye-sensitized photocatalytic hydrogen production using a boron-dipyrromethene (BODIPY) organic material having a pyridyl group at the anchor site was investigated. Phenyl, carbazole, and phenothiazine derivatives were introduced into BODIPY dyes, and their photocatalytic activities were examined. Identification was performed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared (IR), mass (MS) spectra, and absorption spectra, and catalyst evaluation was performed by using visible-light irradiation and photocatalytic hydrogen production and photocurrent. These dyes have strong absorption at 600–700 nm, suggesting that they are promising as photosensitizers. When the photocatalytic activity was examined, stable catalytic performance was demonstrated, and the activity of the Pt-TiO2 photocatalyst carrying a dye having a carbazole group was 249 μmol/gcat·h. Photocurrent measurements suggest that dye-sensitized photocatalytic activity is occurring. This result suggests that BODIPY organic materials with pyridyl groups as anchor sites are useful as novel dye-sensitized photocatalysts.

Highlights

Research on new energy carriers that can replace fossil fuels is attracting attention
Attention has been paid to hydrogen production by water splitting, using a hydrogen generation that is not derived from carbon source [3]
Synthesis of BODIPY-sensitizers are illustrated in Scheme 1

Summary

Introduction

Research on new energy carriers that can replace fossil fuels is attracting attention. In the fossil fuel combustion method and methane steam reforming method, which are the mainstays of the current hydrogen production methods, the use of a carbon material source as a hydrogen source becomes a problem, and the production process produces carbon dioxide [2]. From this perspective, attention has been paid to hydrogen production by water splitting, using a hydrogen generation that is not derived from carbon source [3]. Photocatalytic water splitting is attracting attention as the most ideal hydrogen production method among water-splitting reactions [4]

Methods

Results

Conclusion