Ionic assembled hybrid nanoparticle consisting of tin(IV) porphyrin cations and polyoxomolybdate anions, and photocatalytic hydrogen production by its visible light sensitization

• Porphyrinatotin-polyoxomolybdate hybrid nanoparticle was prepared by ionic assembly.
• The average hydrodynamic diameter is ca. 245 nm with narrow distributions in size.
• The hybrid nanoparticles exhibit a broad absorption in the range of 400–900 nm.
• The hybrid nanoparticles are remarkably stable in acidic solution as well as neutral one.
• The hybrid nanoparticles were used as a visible light sensitizer in photocatalytic hydrogen production.

A new porphyrin–polyoxometalate hybrid nanoparticle was synthesized by the ionic assembly between trans-diaquo[5,10,15,20-tetrakis(4-pyridinium)porphyrinato]tin(IV) cation (SnP) and phosphomolybdate anion (POMo) in aqueous solution. UV–vis spectroscopic investigation on SnP–POMo nanoparticles supports that J-aggregation mainly occurs in SnP–POMo rather than H-aggregation. The influences of temperature or pH to the formation of SnP–POMo nanoparticle were examined. DLS measurements revealed that the average hydrodynamic diameter of SnP–POMo in water is ca. 245 nm with narrow distributions in size. The photocatalytic hydrogen production from water by the SnP–POMo sensitization exhibited higher activity than that of SnP under visible light irradiation.

Porphyrin–polyoxometalate hybrid nanoparticles (SnP–POMo) were prepared with tin(IV)-porphyrin cations and polyoxomolybdate anions. The average hydrodynamic radius amounts to ca. 245 nm with narrow distribution in size. Sn–POMo exhibits a broad absorption in the range of 400–900 nm, and photocatalytic hydrogen production was performed by its visible light sensitization.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide