Coordination-Based Heterogeneous Photocatalysts: A Powerful Tool for Photocatalysis

A straightforward approach to forming coordination-based heterogeneous photocatalysts involves anchoring metal complexes to the surface of various heterogeneous light-harvesting semiconductors. For instance, a heterogeneous photocatalyst system comprising a ruthenium complex as a catalytic site and C3N4 as a light-harvesting semiconductor has been developed. In this system, the ruthenium complex is anchored onto the surface of C3N4 through coordination bonds between the nitrogen atoms of the C3N4 and the metal center of the ruthenium complex.

Other examples of coordination-based heterogeneous photocatalysts include anchoring porphyrin-based metal complexes onto the surface of TiO2 or ZnO semiconductors, or anchoring metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) onto the surface of TiO2 semiconductors.

Besides anchoring metal complexes or MOFs onto the surface of semiconductors, another approach involves incorporating them into the bulk of the semiconductor. This can be achieved by covalently linking the metal complex or MOF to the semiconductor, or by doping the semiconductor with the metal complex or MOF.

Coordination-based heterogeneous photocatalysts have demonstrated promising results in various photocatalytic applications, such as water splitting, CO2 reduction, and organic pollutant degradation. Utilizing metal complexes or MOFs as catalytic sites allows for precise control over the photocatalytic reaction mechanism and can lead to enhanced photocatalytic activity and selectivity.