Multi-functional photocatalytic systems for solar fuel production

Abstract

Solar fuel production from water has received increasing attention due to increasing energy and environmental concerns. Herein we highlight dual- and multi-functional photocatalytic systems, which have both photosensitizing and thermal redox functions for solar fuel production. For example, polymeric cyano (CN)-bridged heteronuclear metal complexes act as dual functional photoredox catalysts that incorporate both a light harvesting photosensitizer and redox catalytic sites for the photocatalytic oxidation of water and reduction of dioxygen to produce H2O2. On the other hand, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) contain both organic parts which act as photosensitizers and inorganic metal parts which act as redox catalysts, catalyzing water oxidation, H2 evolution, CO2 reduction and H2O2 production. An organic photoredox catalyst can be incorporated into nano-sized mesoporous cellular silica foams together with a redox catalyst for water oxidation, H2 production, CO2 reduction and H2O2 production. Finally, construction of multi-functional catalytic systems is discussed for solar-driven production of H2 as molecular models of photosystem I (PSI) and photosystem II (PSII) in photosynthesis. © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry