A new photosensitive coordination compound [RuL(bpy)2](PF6)2 and its application in photocatalytic H2 production under the irradiation of visible light

A new organic–inorganic photosensitive coordination compound [RuL(bpy)2](PF6)2 (to represent by TM1) had been synthesized by reaction of L (L = 2-hydroxyl-5-(imidazo-[4,5-f]-1,10-phenanthrolin) benzoic acid) with bipyridyl ruthenium, and further characterized by UV–vis, IR, NMR MS and CV. The target photocatalyst 6 wt% TM1-0.5 wt% Pt-TiO2 (Ⅰ) was obtained by sensitization of Pt-loaded TiO2 with TM1. The H2 production activity of target photocatalyst Ⅰ was systematically evaluated by the reaction of photocatalytic H2 production from water under visible light irradiation. The maximum H2 evolution of 386.7 μmol in irradiation 3 h and H2 production rate of 2578 μmol · h−1 · g−1 was detected under the optimal conditions with pH 5, target photocatalyst Ⅰ 50 mg and 5% sacrificial reagent TEOA (v/v).