Boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution via synergistic effects between 4H–SiC and tetrapyridylporphyrin

Abstract

The pursuit for sustainable and clean energy sources has conveyed into hydrogen production as a viable alternative to fossil fuels. Hydrogen plays a crucial role in the sustainable energy future. Photocatalytic water splitting and the photoreforming reactions, which use sunlight to produce hydrogen, are emerging and promising methodologies for green hydrogen production. Among the materials investigated for this purpose, silicon carbide-based semiconductors have recently attracted considerable attention due to their exceptional thermal stability, chemical inertness and suitable bandgap for solar/visible light absorption. In this field, the present study explores an innovative system which combines 4H–SiC with 5,10,15,20-tetra(4-pyridyl)-21H,23H-porphine to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. By integrating the robust structural and optical properties of SiC with the superior catalytic properties of porphyrins, we propose a synergistic approach with improved efficiency of hydrogen production thanks to the increased absorptivity of the SiC-porphyrin system.