Cover Feature: Spectroscopic Characterisation of a Bio‐Inspired Ni‐Based Proton Reduction Catalyst Bearing a Pentadentate N 2 S 3 Ligand with Improved Photocatalytic Activity
Résumé
Inspired by the sulphur-rich environment found in active hydrogenase enzymes, a novel Ni-based proton reduction catalyst with pentadentate N2S3 ligand was synthesized. When coupled with a [Ru(bpy)3] 2+ photosensitiser and ascorbate as electron donor in a 1:1 mixture of dimethylacetamide and aqueous ascorbic acid/ascorbate buffer, the catalyst showed improved photocatalytic activity compared to a homologous counterpart with a tetradentate N2S2 ligand. The mechanistic pathway of photo-induced hydrogen evolution was comprehensively analysed through optical transient absorption (OTA) and time-resolved X-ray absorption spectroscopy (tr-XAS) revealing important electronic and structural changes in the catalytic system during photo-irradiation. It was found that the Ni (II) catalyst undergoes a photo-induced metal-centred reduction to form a Ni (I) intermediate bearing a distorted square bipyramidal geometry. Further kinetic analyses pointed out differences in charge separation dynamics between the pentadentate and tetradentate homologues.
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