Harvesting the photoexcited holes on a photocatalytic proton reduction metal–organic framework

Journal Article (2017)
Author(s)

Jara Garcia Santaclara (TU Delft - ChemE/Catalysis Engineering)

Alma Olivos Suarez (TU Delft - ChemE/Catalysis Engineering)

Indy du Fossé

Arjan Houtepen (TU Delft - ChemE/Opto-electronic Materials)

J Hunger (Max Planck Institute)

Freek Kapteijn (TU Delft - ChemE/Catalysis Engineering)

Jorge Gascon (TU Delft - ChemE/Catalysis Engineering)

Monique van der Veen (TU Delft - ChemE/Catalysis Engineering)

Research Group
ChemE/Catalysis Engineering
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1039/C7FD00029D
More Info
expand_more
Publication Year
2017
Language
English
Research Group
ChemE/Catalysis Engineering
Pages (from-to)
71-86
Downloads counter
151
Collections
Institutional Repository
Reuse Rights

Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.

Abstract

The highly porous titanium based metal–organic framework NH2-MIL-125(Ti) has recently attracted significant attention in the field of photocatalysis as a promising material for H+ reduction. This work reveals charge transfer upon visible light illumination from this MOF to two different charge acceptors, as an alternative to sacrificial electron donors. Charge transfer is demonstrated through a combined spectroscopic study between this MOF and: (1) 2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)phenol, a molecule that functionally mimics the tyrosine–histidine pair, responsible for shuttling the holes to the oxygen evolving centre in natural photosynthesis, and (2) TEMPO, a well known and stable radical. Charge transfer of the holes from the MOF to these occluded molecules takes place on the picosecond time scale. This work suggests that, by coupling a stable and recyclable charge acceptor to the photogenerated holes, the charges can be utilised for oxidation reactions and, thus, link the reduction to the oxidation reactions in water splitting.