We report on a photocatalytic setup that utilizes the
organic photosensitizer
(PS) diiodo-BODIPY and the non-precious-metal-based hydrogen evolution
reaction (HER) catalyst (NH4)2[Mo3S13] together with a polyampholytic unimolecular matrix
poly(dehydroalanine)-graft-poly(ethylene glycol)
(PDha-g-PEG) in aqueous media. The system shows
exceptionally high performance with turnover numbers (TON > 7300)
and turnover frequencies (TOF > 450 h–1) that
are
typical for noble-metal-containing systems. Excited-state absorption
spectra reveal the formation of a long-lived triplet state of the
PS in both aqueous and organic media. The system is a blueprint for
developing noble-metal-free HER in water. Component optimization,
e.g., by modification of the meso substituent of
the PS and the composition of the HER catalyst, is further possible.