Solar Hydrogen Production Using Carbon Quantum Dots and a Molecular Nickel Catalyst

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) are established as excellent photosensitizers in combination with a molecular catalyst for solar light driven hydrogen production in aqueous solution. The inexpensive CQDs can be prepared by straightforward thermolysis of citric acid in a simple one-pot, multigram synthesis and are therefore scalable. The CQDs produced reducing equivalents under solar irradiation in a homogeneous photocatalytic system with a Ni-bis(diphosphine) catalyst, giving an activity of 398 μmolH2 (gCQD)(-1) h(-1) and a "per Ni catalyst" turnover frequency of 41 h(-1). The CQDs displayed activity in the visible region beyond λ > 455 nm and maintained their full photocatalytic activity for at least 1 day under…

• CD
  Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft
• DF
  Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

  Award: GAN 624997
• EA
  Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

  Award: EP/H00338X/2