Photocatalytic H2 production from water based on platinum(II) Schiff base sensitizers and a molecular cobalt catalyst

•Platinum(II) Schiff base complexes were used as photosensitizers in the photocatalytic hydrogen production.•Excellent turnover number of photosensitizer was achieved in the catalytic system.•Their electronic effect on catalytic activities and mechanism were investigated.

Three platinum(II) Schiff base complexes were synthesized and were used as efficient photosensitizers (PSs) for the photocatalytic H2 production from mixed solvents under visible light irradiation with a molecular cobalt complex as catalyst. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were investigated and catalytic activities were evaluated under different catalytic conditions. The turnover numbers (TONs) up to 601 for complex 1 was achieved under optimized conditions and the effects of different groups in the complexes on the photocatalytic activity were presented. The photocatalytic efficiencies of three PSs are in good agreement with obtained quenching rate constant of the MLCT excited state.

Graphical abstractThree platinum(II) Schiff base complexes were found to be highly efficient photosensitizers used as visible-light driven hydrogen production.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide