A novel BODIPY-based MOF photocatalyst for efficient visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution

Considerable attention has been paid to promising applications of photoactive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in visible-light-enhanced hydrogen production. In this study, a pillared-paddlewheel type metal-organic framework [Zn 2 (BODIPY)(BPDC) 2 ]·H 2 O (denoted as CCNU-1) featuring BODIPY struts, and capable of efficiently absorbing visible light from 200 to 800 nm, has been fabricated, which is thought to be the first BODIPY-based MOF decorated with Pt nanoparticles as the co-catalyst for efficient photocatalytic H 2 generation under visible-light illumination. Impressively, Pt/CCNU-1 exhibited a remarkable H 2 production rate as high as 4680 μmol g −1 h −1 with the use of l -ascorbic acid as a sacrificial reagent from an aqueous medium, and a high apparent quantum efficiency of 9.06% at 420 nm. To our knowledge, Pt/CCNU-1 is the most visible-light photoactive Pt/MOF composite for H 2 generation from water hitherto, highlighting the promising future of MOF materials in solar-to-chemical energy conversion. This work provides significant insights into the development of MOF-based systems for visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for water reduction. The first BODIPY-based MOF decorated with a Pt co-catalyst exhibited efficient photocatalytic H 2 evolution under visible-light illumination, representing the most visible-light photoactive MOF material for H 2 evolution from water thus far.