Triphenylamine and terpyridine–zinc(ii) complex based donor–acceptor soft hybrid as a visible light-driven hydrogen evolution photocatalyst

Abstract

A donor–acceptor coordination polymer (TPA-Zn) was synthesized by Zn(II)-assisted self-assembly of an in situ generated triphenylamine (TPA) cored tristerpyridine ligand. The polymer absorbs a broad-spectrum of light and exhibits visible light-assisted hydrogen generation (27.1 mmol g⁻¹ over 9 h) from water with 2.9% quantum efficiency at 400 nm. The microscopy images show a mesoscale fibrous morphology and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis reveals the porous nature of TPA-Zn (surface area: 234.5 m² g; d = 6.98 nm), both of which are helpful for substrate diffusion during catalysis.