Enhanced Photocatalytic CO Reduction through Hydrophobic Microenvironment and Binuclear Cobalt Synergistic Effect in Metallogels.

Assemblies that mimic natural lipid bilayers are theoretically efficient for photocatalytic CO reduction; however, such an approach has not been yet explored. Herein, metallogels (LG/Nico-Co) based on the co-assembly of L-glutamic acid lipid (LG/Nico) and cobalt ions exhibited excellent photocatalytic CO reduction, with 208 724 μmol g CO production within 24 h and 90 % CO/H selectivity, or 166 826 μmol g CO production within 12 h and 46 % CO/H selectivity, depending on the water content of the solvent. The alkyl chains of LG/Nico provide a hydrophobic microenvironment for efficient gas transfer, and the assembled bilayers induce a synergistic effect between two adjacent Co ions for catalyzing the CO reduction reaction. These architectures present new alternatives for the development of highly efficient photocatalytic soft matter based on the assembly of small amphiphilic molecules.