Constructing Two Cu-Modified Organophosphomolybdates from a Nanocluster to a One-Dimensional Chain for Boosted Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Production.

Photocatalytic decomposition of water to produce hydrogen H 2 is an ideal way to solve energy and environmental problems, and the development of highly efficient polyoxometalate catalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen production has attracted wide attention. Herein, two Cu-modified Strandberg-type organophosphomolybdates were successfully synthesized, [Cu(C 8 H 7 N 3 )(H 2 O) 2 ] 2 [(C 6 H 5 PO 3 ) 2 Mo 5 O 15 ]·4H 2 O ( 1 ) and [Cu(phen)(H 2 O)][Cu(phen)(H 2 O) 2 ][(C 6 H 5 PO 3 ) 2 Mo 5 O 15 ]·2H 2 O ( 2 ) ([(C 6 H 5 P) 2 Mo 5 O 21 ]Cu 2 ) (C 8 H 7 N 3 = 2-(1H-pyrazol-3-yl)pyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline). Two Strandberg-type organophosphomolybdates can be used for visible-light-driven hydrogen production. Also, compound 2 exhibits an H 2 production rate of 6399 μmol g -1 h -1 after 8 h light exposure in the presence of photosensitization agent [Ir(dtbbpy)(ppy) 2 ][PF 6 ] and TEOA. In addition, cyclic tests showed that compound 2 could be recycled four times without a significant reduction in catalytic performance. This work offers fresh insight into the development of novel polyoxometalates for efficient hydrogen evolution.