Hybrid Carbon Nitride/Cobalt Phthalocyanine Nanocomposites for Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

The photocatalytic production of hydrogen stands 6 out as a promising strategy to convert and store solar energy as 7 chemical energy in the form of a sustainable energy carrier. In the 8 present study, a hybrid photocatalyst based on cobalt phthalocya9 nine (CoPc) coupled with polymeric carbon nitride (CN) is 10 synthesized using a simple, cost-effective, and upscalable method. 11 Both components are held together in the hybrid nanocomposite 12 via π−π interactions, as shown by detailed structural and optical 13 characterization. The synergistic interaction between both 14 components, CN, a metal-free semiconductor, valued for its 15 stability and tunable electronic properties, and CoPc, known for its 16 excellent light absorption and electronic properties, is evidenced in 17 a proof-of-concept photocatalytic reaction: the photo-oxidation of 18 benzyl alcohol (BzOH) to benzaldehyde (BzO). Chemical trapping reagents were employed to elucidate the reaction mechanism, 19 showing favorable recombination dynamics of the hybrid photocatalyst (CoPc/CN) compared to the individual components. 20 Furthermore, photocatalytic hydrogen production was conducted in an aqueous solution using triethanolamine (TEOA) as an 21 electron donor, with the optimized CoPc/CN nanocomposite producing 1136.5 μmol h−1 gcat−1 of H2, achieving a 50% higher 22 hydrogen yield compared to pristine CN. These results contribute to the design of high-performance photocatalytic materials for 23 promising solar-to-X transformations.