Photosensitized reduction of water to hydrogen using novel Maya blue-like organic-inorganic hybrid material

On the basis of the understanding that membranes play an important role in the separation of the intermediate photoproducts in the photosynthetic process, a novel efficient hydrogen evolution system was constructed with Maya blue-like organic–inorganic hybrid material as a photocatalyst, in which palygorskite acts as matrix and Eosin Y as a photosensitizer. Under visible light irradiation (λ 420 nm), the highest rate of hydrogen evolution and apparent quantum yield are about 3247.2 μmol h−1 (g Eosin Y)−1 and 12.5%, respectively. Negatively charged palygorskite particles could control the photosensitized electron-transfer reaction by means of electrostatic interaction. Based on the activities of hydrogen generation and the experimental measurements of UV–vis absorbance and fluorescence, a probable mechanism for photosensitized hydrogen evolution was postulated.