Competitive photocatalytic reduction of H+ and C2H2 by Mo2S4(S2C2H4)2−2 on colloidal TiO2

The competitive photocatalytic reduction of H + and C 2 H 2 at catalytic sites formed when Mo 2 S 4 (S 2 C 2 H 4 ) 2− 2 is photoreduced on colloidal TiO 2 in the presence of a sacrificial electron donor was studied. Comparisons of the total number of electrons transferred to both substrates as a function of pH suggest that the substrates compete for a common catalytic site. Based on analogies with homogeneous solution studies, a mechanism involving an Mo(IV) dimeric species as the catalytic site is suggested. The efficiency for conversion of incident light to reduced products increases with decreasing light intensity and maximizes at about seven electrons transferred per 100 photons absorbed.