Development of noble metal-free photocatalyst system using iron-based organometalic complex as co-catalyst

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17H04888
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Field: Energy-related chemistry
• Research Institution: Kyushu University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Motonori 九州大学, カーボンニュートラル・エネルギー国際研究所, 准教授 (60700276)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 光触媒 / 水素 / 鉄錯体 / ヒドロゲナーゼ / 可視光

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this research, we developed a visible light responsive "hybrid photocatalyst" using dyes by combining dyes-inorganic oxides-iron complex promoters. (1) Development of dye-sensitized photocatalyst using model compound of supported dye (2) Development of iron complex ligand was independently performed and optimized. Based on these results, we investigated (3) photocatalytic hydrogen production by the combination of dye-photocatalyst-iron cocatalyst hydrogen production. Although the activity was low, generation of hydrogen was confirmed under visible light irradiation. From the above, we constructed an organic dye-photocatalyst-iron complex hybrid photocatalyst, which was the subject of this research, and were able to achieve water-splitting hydrogen production under light irradiation.

Free Research Field

有機-無機複合材料化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

光触媒は水素生成サイトとして希少な白金を助触媒として用いており、これは光触媒の大量供給にはふさわしいとはいえない。白金以外の助触媒研究も酸化イリジウムや酸化ルテニウムを用いた貴金属系が主体で、非貴金属系助触媒の研究は極めて少ない。白金は地表に０．５μ％しか存在しないが、鉄は地表に４．７％存在し、価格も１００万分の１で安価な元素であり、従来の白金に変わり安価で安定的に供給可能な助触媒として期待できる。そこで本研究では水素製造能を有することが知られている、鉄ヒドロゲナーゼの鉄模倣触媒に注目した。本研究により安価な光触媒系の開発が可能となる。