Guest‐Enhanced Charge Separation in Porphyrin‐Based Double‐Cavity Metallacages for Visible‐Light‐Driven H <sub>2</sub> O <sub>2</sub> Production

Y Yujuan Huang S Shijin Jian (State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering) Z Ziteng Guo (State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun Jilin China) Z Zeyuan Zhang Z Zhikai Li (State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering) H Haonan Peng (Key Laboratory of Inorganic Functional Materials and Devices, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics) M Mingming Zhang (State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) is a versatile and green oxidant with wide industrial applications, yet its large‐scale production still relies on the energy‐intensive anthraquinone process. Photocatalytic synthesis of H 2 O 2 under visible light offers a sustainable alternative but remains limited by inefficient charge separation and mass transport in extended framework materials. Herein, we report the modular construction of two porphyrin‐based double‐cavity metallacages via orthogonal Pt(II)/carboxylate/pyridine and Zn‐porphyrin/pyridine coordination. The resulting metallacages feature an intrinsic donor‐acceptor architecture that promotes photoinduced electron transfer and charge separation. Encapsulation of electron‐rich aromatic guests (triphenylene or benzotrithiophene) further stabilizes the charge‐separated state and prolongs carrier lifetimes, thereby enhancing the photocatalytic H 2 O 2 generation with a rate of 4037 µmol·g −1 ·h −1 in the presence of benzyl alcohol, among the highest reported values for visible‐light supramolecular photocatalysts. This work establishes discrete metallacages and their host–guest complexes as an emerging platform for supramolecular photocatalysis and rational H 2 O 2 photosynthesis, which will pave the way for the future development of metallacages in photocatalytic applications.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 65, Issue 18
Published April 27, 2026
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

Y

Yujuan Huang

S

Shijin Jian

State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering

Z

Ziteng Guo

State Key Laboratory of Supramolecular Structure and Materials College of Chemistry Jilin University Changchun Jilin China

Z

Zeyuan Zhang

Z

Zhikai Li

State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering

H

Haonan Peng

Key Laboratory of Inorganic Functional Materials and Devices, Shanghai Institute of Ceramics

M

Mingming Zhang

State Key Laboratory for Porous Metal Materials, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of New Conceptual Sensors and Molecular Materials, Shaanxi International Research Center for Soft Matter, Xi’an Key Laboratory of Sustainable Polymer Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering