Executive Summary : | Hydrogen fuel is a significant green energy source due to its high calorific value, carbon-free emission, and excellent energy carrier. However, the low production rate and CO₂ emission make it necessary to investigate efficient techniques for the future hydrogen economy. Photocatalytic water splitting is emerging as an alternative technique to produce clean hydrogen. Organic semiconductors have been used as photocatalysts for hydrogen generation, but their low efficiency under visible light, lack of abundant metals, and tedious preparation conditions prompt the need for alternative catalysts. A proof-of-concept for cobalt metalated porphyrin-naphthalimide-based redox active systems has shown a photocatalytic hydrogen production rate of 17.5 mmol/g/h at basic PH. Further investigation is needed to explore the functionalization of tetrapyrrolic-based macrocyclic systems as photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. The research plan aims to design and synthesize macrocyclic π-conjugated redox active systems, forming self-assembled 1D or 2D nanostructures. A composite of nanostructures with TiO₂/Pt is prepared to alleviate electron transfer, triggering water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen under visible light irradiation. The proposed project is high in demand in the green hydrogen mission at national and international levels, as the Government of India has given high priority to green hydrogen as a renewable energy resource. |