Light-induced hydrogen production from water using nickel() catalysts and N-doped carbon-dot photosensitizers: catalytic efficiency enhancement by increase of catalyst nuclearity

Solar energy conversion to chemical energy via light-induced H 2 O splitting to O 2 and H 2 is considered to be a promising solution to meet the growing global energy demands. To make this transformation economically viable, it is necessary to develop sustainable photocatalytic systems. Herein, we present an efficient photocatalytic H 2 production system which relies on components comprised of low-cost and high-abundance elements. In particular, a series of mononuclear complexes [Ni(L N S) 3 ] − and [Ni(N ^ N)(L N S) 2 ] and a hexanuclear complex [Ni(L N S) 2 ] 6 (N ^ N = diimine and L N S − = heterocyclic thioamidate with different group-substituents) were synthesized and utilized as catalysts, in combination with N-doped carbon dots as photosensitizer, for efficient H 2 evolution from aqueous protons. Differences in H 2 production efficiency were observed among the studied Ni( ii ) catalysts, with complexes bearing ligands with stronger electron-donating ability exhibiting higher catalytic activity. A remarkable catalytic efficiency enhancement was observed for the hexanuclear complex, with catalyst loadings lower than those of the mononuclear Ni( ii ) complexes, affording TONs >1550 (among the highest values reported for photocatalytic systems of similar type operating in H 2 O). These data provide an indication of catalytic cooperativity between the metal centers of the hexanuclear complex, and demonstrate the crucial role of atomically precise polynuclear Ni( ii ) catalysts in light-induced H 2 production, a result that can guide future catalyst design towards the development of highly efficient, low-cost and environmentally benign photocatalytic systems. Ni( ii ) catalysts were synthesized and effectively combined with N-doped carbon dots for light-induced H 2 production in H 2 O; catalyst nuclearity increase and catalytic cooperativity phenomena are key elements for enhanced catalytic activity.