First All-in-One Cocatalyst Achieved for Overall Water Splitting Photocatalysis – Towards a Sustainable Hydrogen Society –

Okayama University announced that a research group from Tohoku University and Kyoto University has for the first time discovered that two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (2D-MOFs) function as an all-in-one cocatalyst in photocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS). This enables highly efficient and stable clean hydrogen production, contributing to the realization of a sustainable hydrogen society.
調査NQ 44/100出典：PR Times

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  • 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 11:48
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April 30, 2026 National University Corporation Okayama University https://www.okayama-u.ac.jp/ Overall water splitting (OWS) by photocatalysis is attracting attention as a promising method for clean hydrogen production, aiming to realize a decarbonized society. It was discovered for the first time that two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks (2D-MOFs) function as an all-in-one cocatalyst for photocatalysis. High-efficiency overall water splitting was achieved by simply modifying the photocatalyst with 2D-MOF using a one-step self-assembly method. ◆Overview Overall water splitting (OWS) by photocatalysis holds great potential for sustainable hydrogen production. In OWS, promoting both the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) on the photocatalyst surface is extremely important. Selectively modifying the photocatalyst with HER and OER cocatalysts that show high activity individually at the desired positions is key to achieving high activity. However, significant challenges remain, such as the complicated multi-step photodeposition process, the need for an oxygen blocking layer to inhibit reverse reactions, the difficulty of completely suppressing reverse reactions, and concerns regarding the durability of the blocking layer. A research group led by Professor Ryota Sakamoto of the Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University, discovered that Co-HHTP, a type of conductive two-dimensional metal-organic framework (2D-MOF), functions as an all-in-one cocatalyst. By supporting Co-HHTP on the OWS photocatalyst SrTiO3:Al using a one-step self-assembly method, stable OWS with an apparent quantum efficiency (AQE) of 31.5% at 350 nm (nanometer, nano is one billionth) was achieved without an oxygen blocking layer and without causing oxygen reduction reverse reactions. The concept of an all-in-one cocatalyst provided by 2D-MOF offers a new paradigm for the design of efficient and practical OWS systems. This research result was published online in the scientific journal Nature Chemistry on April 23, 2026, at 18:00 (Japan time). Figure. Conceptual diagram of OWS by photocatalysis ◆Paper Information Title: Two-dimensional metal-organic frameworks offer all-in-one cocatalysts for photocatalytic overall water-splitting Authors: Jingyan Guan, Hajime Suzuki*, Kazuhide Kamiya, Takashi Harada, Rintaro Adachi, Osamu Tomita, Hirofumi Kurokawa, Daisuke Unabara, Koji Yonekura, Naoya Fukui, Hiroaki Maeda, Kunihisa Sugimoto, Yuichi Yamaguchi, Akinori Saeki, Akira Yamakata, Akihiko Kudo, Ryu Abe*, Ryota Sakamoto* *Corresponding authors: Assistant Professor Hajime Suzuki, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University; Professor Ryu Abe, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University; Professor Ryota Sakamoto, Graduate School of Science, Tohoku University Journal: Nature Chemistry DOI: 10.1038/s41557-026-02133-6 URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-026-02133-6 ◆Acknowledgments This achievement was carried out with grants and support from the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) PRESTO (JPMJFR203F), CREST (JPMJCR24S6), Mirai Program (JPMJMI23G2), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI (JP25H01644, JP25H01674, JP25H01999, JP24K01494, JP24K01528, JP24H00485, JP24K21809, JP23K18001, JP23H03937, JP23KJ1388, JP23H02061, JP22H05145, JP20H05838, JP20H00398), Asahi Glass Foundation, Nippon Sheet Glass Foundation for Materials Science and Engineering, ENEOS Tonen General Research Encouragement and Scholarship Association, Izumi Science and Technology Foundation, Platform for Advanced Technologies and Facilities for Drug Discovery (JP25ama121006), and the Program for Promoting the Enhancement of Research Universities (JPJS00420230010). This paper is open access through the 'Tohoku University 2026 Open Access Promotion APC Support Program'. ◆About the detailed research content Achieving the first all-in-one cocatalyst for overall water splitting photocatalysis – Towards a sustainable hydrogen society – Keywords:

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