Organometallic rhodium-based photonic synergy: An innovative light-harvesting DAD facilitating strong CO 2 reduction
Surendra K Jaiswal, Rajesh K Yadav, Quang Le Dang, Kanchan Sharma, Shaifali Mishra, Anupma Yadav, Geeta Srivastava, Rehana Shahin, Rahul Maddheshiya, Jin OoK BaegThe design and development effective light-harvesting molecular systems is a revolutionary step towards the production of upcoming solar fuels. In this regard, a new N1,N2-diphenyl acenaphthene-quinone naphthylene-1,2-diimine (DAD) molecule was synthesised and designed as an effictive light harvesting chromophoric ligand that may combine with rhodium to create a potent organometallic photocatalyst (Rh-DAD). Highly selective CO2 photoreduction was made possible by this hybrid complex's remarkable photophysical behaviour and broad-spectrum visible light absorption. Remarkably, the Rh-DAD photocatalyst effectively facilitated NAD⁺/NADH photoregeneration under visible light irradiation (400–600 nm), finally generating a significant amount of formic acid (76.27 μmol) from CO₂, underscoring its promise as a next-generation solar-fuel platform.