Sulfone‐functionalized stable molecular single crystals for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution
Xunliang Hu,
Xiaoju Yang,
Bingyi Song,
Zhen Zhan,
Ruixue Sun,
Yantong Guo,
Li‐Ming Yang,
Xuan Yang,
Chun Zhang,
Irshad Hussain,
Xiaoyan Wang,
Bien Tan
Affiliations
Xunliang Hu
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Xiaoju Yang
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Bingyi Song
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Zhen Zhan
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Ruixue Sun
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Yantong Guo
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Li‐Ming Yang
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Xuan Yang
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Chun Zhang
College of Life Science & Technology Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Irshad Hussain
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering SBA School of Science and Engineering, Lahore University of Management Sciences Lahore Pakistan
Xiaoyan Wang
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Bien Tan
Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry for Energy Conversion and Storage Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Material Chemistry and Service Failure, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan China
Abstract Highly crystalline organic semiconductors are ideal materials for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution in water splitting. However, the instability and complex synthesis processes of most reported organic molecule‐based photocatalysts restrict their applications. In this study, we introduce benzo [1,2‐b:4,5‐bʹ] bis [1] benzothiophene‐3,9‐dicarboxylic acid, 5,5,11,11‐tetraoxide (FSOCA), a highly crystalline, stable molecular crystal that is easy to synthesize and serves as an efficient photocatalyst for the hydrogen evolution reaction. FSOCA exhibits high efficiency in sacrificial hydrogen evolution reaction (760 µmol h−1, 76 mmol g−1 h−1 at 330 mW cm−2; 570 µmol h−1, 57 mmol g−1 h−1 at 250 mW cm−2), and FSOCA remains stable during photocatalysis for up to 400 h. Experiments and theoretical studies confirmed the presence of hydrogen bonds between the sulfone group and the sacrificial agent (ascorbic acid). This interaction significantly improved the oxidation reaction kinetics and boosted the photocatalytic performance. This study presents a scalable and convenient approach to synthesize highly crystalline, active, and stable organic photocatalysts with potential applications in large‐scale photocatalysis.
