Broadband light active MTCNQ-based metal–organic semiconducting hybrids for enhanced redox catalysis

Abstract

Efficient harvesting of solar light is highly desirable for a wide range of applications, including photocatalysis and energy conversion. However, traditional semiconducting metal oxide photocatalysts are typically effective only under UV irradiation while metal–metal oxide hybrids can utilize the UV as well as the visible component of the solar light. In this article, we fabricate hybrids of metal–7,7,8,8-tetracyanoquinodimethane (TCNQ) on cotton fibres as a supporting three-dimensional (3D) template for photo-reductive catalysis. These materials extend the absorption of light from the visible to infrared region, thereby allowing the use of over 95% of solar irradiation. We demonstrate the ability of these materials to harvest light across a broad wavelength range by utilizing them as highly active materials for reductive photocatalysis. The mechanism of the underlying charge-transfer phenomena under different photo-excitation conditions reveals a photo-illumination induced redox process at the catalyst/reactant interface resulting in superior catalytic efficiency.