Boosted hydrogen generation with BODIPY-functionalized B, F co-doped TiO2/graphene oxide hybrid

In this work, an efficient hybrid photocatalyst was developed for solar-driven hydrogen production, a promising pathway for sustainable energy generation. A new photoelectrochemical water-splitting catalyst was designed and synthesized from graphene oxide, cyclotriphosphazene, BODIPY, and B, F co-doped TiO2 as core structural components. The catalytic performance of the composite was evaluated in photoelectrochemical water reduction. The structures and morphologies of the synthesized materials were characterized by spectroscopic methods. In addition, photophysical properties were examined using diffuse reflectance, UV–visible, and fluorescence spectroscopy, while electrochemical behavior was investigated with photocurrent, electron impedance spectroscopy, and Mott–Schottky measurements. The composite powders were coated onto conductive FTO glass by electrophoretic deposition, and their hydrogen production efficiency was measured in a photoelectrochemical setup. The B, F co-doped TiO2/graphene oxide hybrid functionalized with BODIPY-substituted cyclotriphosphazene exhibited significantly enhanced photocatalytic performance (409.2 µmol h⁻1 cm⁻2), surpassing bare and doped TiO2, graphene oxide, and comparable systems reported in the literature. This study not only demonstrates the synergistic role of molecular engineering and heteroatom doping in photocatalytic systems but also charts a forward-looking path toward next-generation, high-efficiency solar-to-hydrogen conversion materials.