Improving photocatalytic hydrogen production of metal–organic framework UiO-66 octahedrons by dye-sensitization

• Published in: Applied catalysis. B, Environmental Vol. 168-169; pp. 572 - 576
• Main Authors: Yuan, Yu-Peng, Yin, Li-Sha, Cao, Shao-Wen, Xu, Geng-Sheng, Li, Chuan-Hao, Xue, Can
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2015
• Subjects: Charge transfer; Dye sensitization; Dyes; Hydrogen production; Light irradiation; Low cost; Metal-organic frameworks; Octahedrons; Photocatalysis; Quantum efficiency; Water splitting; Zirconium; Water splitting; Photocatalysis; Dye sensitization; Metal–organic frameworks
• ISSN: 0926-3373; 1873-3883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.11.007

Enhanced photocatalytic H2 production was achieved over the Erythrosin B dye sensitized UiO-66 MOF under visible light irradiation. •Erythrosin B dye was used to sensitize the UiO-66 MOF for photocatalytic H2 production.•The efficient charge transfer from photoexcited dye to MOF causes the enhanced H2 production.•The low cost and easy operation makes dye sensitized MOFs have great potential for photocatalytic H2 production. We used Erythrosin B dye to sensitize Zr-containing MOFs of UiO-66 octahedrons for photocatalytic H2 production. No H2 production was observed over Pt-loaded UiO-66 octahedrons under visible light irradiation. Comparatively, efficient hydrogen production was achieved upon visible light irradiation in this dye sensitized MOFs system. The highest H2 production rate of 4.6μmolh−1, corresponding to 0.25% quantum efficiency at 420nm, occurs from the system containing 10mg MOFs photocatalyst and 30mg Erythrosin B dye. The enhancement in photocatalytic H2 production was benefited from the efficient charge transfer from photoexcited Erythrosin B dye to the MOFs. Owing to the advantages of low cost, easy operation, and abundance in nature, the dye sensitized MOFs shows great potential for photocatalytic H2 production.