Organophotocatalysis system of p/n bilayers for wide visible-light-induced molecular hydrogen evolution

Abstract

We developed a photocatalysis system composed of two types of organic p/n bilayers for the evolution of H₂. When a bilayer of 29H,31H-phthalocyanine (H₂Pc, a p-type semiconductor)/fullerene (C₆₀, an n-type semiconductor) was applied to a photocatalyst by loading a Pt co-catalyst onto the C₆₀ surface, the Pt-coated C₆₀ surface induced H₂ evolution, concurrently involving photocatalytic oxidation at H₂Pc in the other bilayer. The photocatalytic reaction can occur along with photophysical events in the p/n interior. In order to draw out an efficient photocatalysis, the factors affecting H₂ evolution were investigated in terms of the intensity of light irradiated, thickness of the bilayers, and the amount of Pt co-catalyst deposited. The organophotocatalysis system demonstrates a novel and advanced method of photocatalytic H₂ evolution utilizing energy over the entire range of visible light.