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Hydrogen evolution from water induced by visible light mediated by redox catalysis

Nature volume 281, pages 657–658 (1979)Cite this article

Abstract

Noble metal dispersions are suitable for mediating light-induced hydrogen1–5 and oxygen6–8 evolution from water. We report here a dramatic improvement of the hydrogen production rate when very finely dispersed platinum is used as a mediator in reaction (1). The first observations of the dynamics of intervention of the Pt particles in the redox events are presented. A centrifuged colloidal Pt catalyst stabilised by polyvinyl alcohol showed exceptionally high activity in promoting hydrogen evolution from water via 2MV+ + H2O→PtH2 + 2OH− + 2MV2+ (1) where MV+ stands for reduced methylviologen. The latter is produced photochemically in aqueous solution containing Ru(bipy)32+ as a sensitiser and EDTA as an electron donor. At 10−3 M Pt the reoxidation of MV+ requires only 15 µs and leads to quantitative formation of H2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut de Chimie Physique, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale, Lausanne, Switzerland

    John Kiwi & Michael Grätzel

Authors
  1. John Kiwi
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  2. Michael Grätzel
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Kiwi, J., Grätzel, M. Hydrogen evolution from water induced by visible light mediated by redox catalysis. Nature 281, 657–658 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1038/281657a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/281657a0

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