Robust Heterogeneous Photocatalyst for Visible-Light-Driven Hydrogen Evolution Promotion: Immobilization of a Fluorescein Dye-Encapsulated Metal–Organic Cage on TiO₂

The design of artificial photocatalytic devices that simulates the ingenious and efficient photosynthetic systems in nature is promising. Herein, a metal–organic cage [Pd6(NPyCzPF)12]12+ (MOC-PC6) integrating 12 organic ligands NPyCzBP and 6 Pd2+ catalytic centers is designed, which is well defined to include organic dye fluorescein (FL) for constructing a supramolecular photochemical molecular device (SPMD) FL@MOC-PC6. Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between MOC-PC6 and the encapsulated FL has been observed by steady-state and time-resolved emission spectroscopy. FL@MOC-PC6 is successfully heterogenized with TiO2 by a facile sol–gel method to achieve a robust heterogeneous FL@MOC-PC6-TiO2. The close proximity between the Pd2+ catalytic site and FL included in the cage enables PET from the photoexcited FL to Pd2+ sites through a powerful intramolecular pathway. The photocatalytic hydrogen production assessments of the optimized 4 wt % FL@MOC-PC6-TiO2 demonstrate an initial H2 production rate of 2402 μmol g–1 h–1 and a turnover number of 4356 within 40 h, enhanced by 15-fold over that of a homogeneous FL@MOC-PC6. The effect of the MOC content on photocatalytic H2 evolution (PHE) is investigated and the inefficient comparison systems, such as MOC-PC6, MOC-PC6-TiO2, FL-sensitized MOC-PC6/FL-TiO2, and analogue FL/MOC-PC6-TiO2 with free FL, are evaluated. This study provides a creative and distinctive approach for the design and preparation of novel heterogeneous SPMD catalysts based on MOCs.