Synthesis and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution of meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin functionalized platinum nanocomposites

Abstract

Meso-tetrakis(p-sulfonatophenyl)porphyrin (TPPS4) functionalized platinum nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized using ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis), fluorescence spectroscopy (FL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods. The postulated configuration of TPPS4 functionalized platinum nanocomposite may be described as an antenna system containing a photoreceptive TPPS4 shell and a nanosize platinum core. Fluorescence and photoelectrochemistry studies of both TPPS4 and the platinum nanocomposites showed that efficient electron/energy transfer occurred from the TPPS4 donor to the metallic nanocore acceptor. TPPS4 functionalized platinum nanocomposites are photocatalytic active for water reduction to produce hydrogen. The turnover numbers (TONPt and TONTPPS4) and quantum yield of hydrogen (ϕH2) for the photocatalyst (nPt:nTPPS4= 250) were 44, 11056, and 1.8%, respectively, calculated on the basis of the total amount of H2 evolution for 12 h irradiation.