Efficient p-zinc phthalocyanine/n-fullerene organic bilayer electrode for molecular hydrogen evolution induced by the full visible-light energy

A photoelectrode featuring an organic p/n bilayer was used to generate H-2 from H+, where n-type fullerene (C-60) was used in combination with p-type zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc). When a Pt catalyst was loaded on the surface of C-60 in the organo-photoelectrode, a photocathodic current was successfully generated via H-2 evolution at the Pt-coated C-60 surface. On the basis of the results of action spectral measurements for photocurrent, the H-2 evolution appeared to be induced over the entire visible-light wavelength range of <750 nm. In particular, the visible-light absorption of ZnPc/C-60 bilayer efficiently contributed to carrier generation, consequently leading to the H-2 evolution at the C-60 surface via reducing power generated through a series of photophysical events within the bilayer. Copyright (C) 2015, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.