A stable dual-functional system of visible-light-driven Ni(II) reduction to a nickel nanoparticle catalyst and robust in situ hydrogen production.

A stable hydrogen photogeneration system containing fluorescein as a photosensitizer with nickel(II) chloride as a catalyst precursor in basic solution was found to undergo in situ photoreduction of nickel(II) to zero-valent Ni nanoparticles to catalyze highly efficient hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation.