Light-driven approaches for the selective semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene are emerging as sustainable alternatives to conventional thermochemical purification methods. The realization of a highly selective, robust, and recyclable photocatalyst that avoids noble metals, operates under visible light, and uses water as the proton source remains a major challenge. Here, we report the first demonstration of a supramolecular crystalline material as photocatalyst for the visible-light powered conversion of acetylene to ethylene. The catalyst is a copper-loaded hydrogen-bonded organic framework 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoic acid)pyrene (Cu@HOF), which integrates light-harvesting and catalytic function within a single material and uses water as the proton source. Under a pure acetylene atmosphere, Cu@HOF achieves an overall ethylene production of 3.01 mol g-1 Cu with >= 99.9% selectivity after 16 h of irradiation. Under the industrially relevant conditions of a mixed acetylene/ethylene atmosphere, Cu@HOF enables near 100% acetylene conversion within only 75 min. The heterogeneous nature of the catalyst allows straightforward recovery and reusability, retaining catalytic activity under industrial mixture conditions over at least four consecutive cycles.
Photocatalytic semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene in water powered by a copper-functionalized hydrogen-bonded organic framework
Fortunato A.;Barbieri M.;Agnoli S.;Đorđević Luka
;Arcudi F.
2026
Abstract
Light-driven approaches for the selective semi-hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene are emerging as sustainable alternatives to conventional thermochemical purification methods. The realization of a highly selective, robust, and recyclable photocatalyst that avoids noble metals, operates under visible light, and uses water as the proton source remains a major challenge. Here, we report the first demonstration of a supramolecular crystalline material as photocatalyst for the visible-light powered conversion of acetylene to ethylene. The catalyst is a copper-loaded hydrogen-bonded organic framework 1,3,6,8-tetrakis(p-benzoic acid)pyrene (Cu@HOF), which integrates light-harvesting and catalytic function within a single material and uses water as the proton source. Under a pure acetylene atmosphere, Cu@HOF achieves an overall ethylene production of 3.01 mol g-1 Cu with >= 99.9% selectivity after 16 h of irradiation. Under the industrially relevant conditions of a mixed acetylene/ethylene atmosphere, Cu@HOF enables near 100% acetylene conversion within only 75 min. The heterogeneous nature of the catalyst allows straightforward recovery and reusability, retaining catalytic activity under industrial mixture conditions over at least four consecutive cycles.
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