Molecular solid solution of lanthanide-titanium-oxo clusters with enhanced photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

Molecular solid solutions of metal clusters containing different metal centers with well-defined structures can accurately regulate the HOMO-LUMO gap,but are rarely available.Herein,a series of colorless lanthanide-titanium-oxo clusters Ln_(2)Ti_4(μ_(2)-O)_(2)(μ_(3)-O)_4(Piv)_(10)(THF)_(2)(Ln_(2)Ti_4,Ln = Eu,Gd,Tb,and Ce,HPiv = pivalic acid) were synthesized by the reaction of pivalic acid with Ln(Ac)_(3) and titanium isopropoxide.The light yellow crystal of cluster solid solutions Eu_(2)Ti_(4-x)Cd_(x),containing a mixture of Eu_(2)Ti_4 and Eu_(2)Ti_(3)Cd,was obtained by in situ doping Cd^(2+) and S^(2–).Eu_(2)Ti_(3.92)Cd_(0.08) displays efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity without a co-catalyst,which is up to 2.6 times that of Eu_(2)Ti_4.Femtosecond time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy and spin-polarized density functional calculations showed that the enhanced photocatalytic performance of Eu_(2)Ti_(4-x)Cd_(x) can be attributed to the narrower HOMO-LUMO gap and lower LUMO position than that of Eu_(2)Ti_4.This studyprovides an in situ doping method to realize the simple preparation of cluster solid solution.