Impact of molecular subunit engineering for viologen-based systems toward efficient photocatalytic hydrogen generation


Yıldız G., Turgut K., ALTINIŞIK S., KOYUNCU S., Patır I. H.

Molecular Catalysis, cilt.604, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 604
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.mcat.2026.116309
  • Dergi Adı: Molecular Catalysis
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Engineering Source (EBSCO)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Electron transfer mediator, Hydrogen production, Photocatalyst, Viologen
  • Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

The increasing global demand for clean energy and the environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels have intensified interest in sustainable hydrogen production technologies. Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, a process mimicking natural photosynthesis, offers a promising pathway for generating hydrogen using solar energy. To address these challenges, viologen-derived organic molecules have emerged as effective catalysts due to their strong electron-accepting properties, stable radical cation formation, and enhanced charge carrier separation. In this study, two viologen-based photocatalysts, TPCBP-A and TPCBP-B, containing allyl (-CH2CH CH2) and butyl (-(CH2)4-) functional groups, respectively, were synthesized and characterized to investigate the effect of structural modification on photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance. Comparative analysis revealed that TPCBP-A exhibited superior hydrogen production efficiency (38.77 mmol g−1), attributed to the conjugated allyl group’s role in enhancing π-conjugation, narrowing the energy gap, and improving visible-light absorption. These findings highlight the potential of functionalized viologens in designing efficient, visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for sustainable hydrogen generation.