Syntheses and photocatalytical mechanism of fourth period post transition metal diphenylphosphinate

The fourth period post transition metal (Ni, Cu, Zn) diphenylphosphinate complexes were synthesized by solvothermal method. Based on the characterization of the complexes by SEM, XRD, IR, XPS, EA, TG and UV–Vis DRS, the catalytic properties of three compounds were studied by photocatalytic ethanol for H 2 production. The result showed the quantity of H 2 evolution by nickel, copper and zinc diphenylphosphinate were ca. 24.8 μmol/g, 45.9 μmol/g and 0 μmol/g for 3 h, respectively. By analyzing the relationship between photocatalytic mechanism and central ion structure, the reason for the obvious gap in photocatalytic activity of complexes has been investigated.