Organophotocatalysis system of p/n bilayers for wide visible-light-induced molecular hydrogen evolution

We developed a photocatalysis system composed of two types of organic p/n bilayers for the evolution of H2. When a bilayer of 29H,31H-phthalocyanine (H2Pc, a p-type semiconductor)/fullerene (C60, an n-type semiconductor) was applied to a photocatalyst by loading a Pt co-catalyst onto the C60 surface, the Pt-coated C60 surface induced H2 evolution, concurrently involving photocatalytic oxidation at H2Pc in the other bilayer. The photocatalytic reaction can occur along with photophysical events in the p/n interior. In order to draw out an efficient photocatalysis, the factors affecting H2 evolution were investigated in terms of the intensity of light irradiated, thickness of the bilayers, and the amount of Pt co-catalyst deposited. The organophotocatalysis system demonstrates a novel and advanced method of photocatalytic H2 evolution utilizing energy over the entire range of visible light.