Phase-migrating Z-scheme charge transportation enables photoredox catalysis harnessing water as an electron source

Z-schematic photocatalytic reactions are of considerable interest because of their potential for application to reductive molecular conversions into value-added chemicals using water as an electron source. However, most demonstrations of Z-scheme photocatalysis have far been limited to overall water splitting. In particular, it has been basically impossible to couple the reduction of “water-insoluble compounds” with water oxidation by conventional Z-scheme systems in aqueous solution. In this work, an unconventional Z-scheme electron transportation system with a “phase-migrating” redox mediator is constructed that enables photocatalytic conversion of water-insoluble compounds by using water as an electron/proton source.