Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Summary: Conjugated polymers are emerging as promising organic photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water. However, it is still very challenging for conjugated polymers to realize highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient strategy of hydrophilic si...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2019-03-01
|
Series: | iScience |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004219300410 |
id |
doaj-af3c207399554b3ba78f969302e4b41d |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-af3c207399554b3ba78f969302e4b41d2020-11-24T21:26:03ZengElsevieriScience2589-00422019-03-01133342Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen EvolutionZhicheng Hu0Zhenfeng Wang1Xi Zhang2Haoran Tang3Xiaocheng Liu4Fei Huang5Yong Cao6Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China; South China Institute of Collaborative Innovation, Dongguan 523808, PR ChinaInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. ChinaInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. ChinaInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. ChinaInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. ChinaInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. China; South China Institute of Collaborative Innovation, Dongguan 523808, PR China; Corresponding authorInstitute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, P. R. ChinaSummary: Conjugated polymers are emerging as promising organic photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water. However, it is still very challenging for conjugated polymers to realize highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient strategy of hydrophilic side chain functionalization to boost the hydrogen evolution rates of conjugated polymers. By functionalizing conjugated polymers with hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (OEG) side chains, a 90-fold improvement in hydrogen evolution rate has been achieved than that of alkyl-functionalized conjugated polymer. It is found that the OEG side chains interact robustly with Pt co-catalysts, resulting in more efficient charge transfer. Moreover, OEG side chains in conjugated polymers can adsorb H+ from water, resulting in significantly lowered energy levels on the surfaces of conjugated polymers, which enables cascade energy levels and enhances charge separation and photocatalytic performance. Our results indicate that rational side-chain engineering could facilitate the design of improved organic photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. : Polymer Chemistry; Organic Chemistry Methods; Electrochemical Energy Conversion; Polymers Subject Areas: Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Methods, Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Polymershttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004219300410 |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Zhicheng Hu Zhenfeng Wang Xi Zhang Haoran Tang Xiaocheng Liu Fei Huang Yong Cao |
spellingShingle |
Zhicheng Hu Zhenfeng Wang Xi Zhang Haoran Tang Xiaocheng Liu Fei Huang Yong Cao Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution iScience |
author_facet |
Zhicheng Hu Zhenfeng Wang Xi Zhang Haoran Tang Xiaocheng Liu Fei Huang Yong Cao |
author_sort |
Zhicheng Hu |
title |
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution |
title_short |
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution |
title_full |
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution |
title_fullStr |
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution |
title_full_unstemmed |
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution |
title_sort |
conjugated polymers with oligoethylene glycol side chains for improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution |
publisher |
Elsevier |
series |
iScience |
issn |
2589-0042 |
publishDate |
2019-03-01 |
description |
Summary: Conjugated polymers are emerging as promising organic photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from water. However, it is still very challenging for conjugated polymers to realize highly efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Herein, we demonstrate an efficient strategy of hydrophilic side chain functionalization to boost the hydrogen evolution rates of conjugated polymers. By functionalizing conjugated polymers with hydrophilic oligo (ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (OEG) side chains, a 90-fold improvement in hydrogen evolution rate has been achieved than that of alkyl-functionalized conjugated polymer. It is found that the OEG side chains interact robustly with Pt co-catalysts, resulting in more efficient charge transfer. Moreover, OEG side chains in conjugated polymers can adsorb H+ from water, resulting in significantly lowered energy levels on the surfaces of conjugated polymers, which enables cascade energy levels and enhances charge separation and photocatalytic performance. Our results indicate that rational side-chain engineering could facilitate the design of improved organic photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution. : Polymer Chemistry; Organic Chemistry Methods; Electrochemical Energy Conversion; Polymers Subject Areas: Polymer Chemistry, Organic Chemistry Methods, Electrochemical Energy Conversion, Polymers |
url |
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2589004219300410 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT zhichenghu conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT zhenfengwang conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT xizhang conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT haorantang conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT xiaochengliu conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT feihuang conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution AT yongcao conjugatedpolymerswitholigoethyleneglycolsidechainsforimprovedphotocatalytichydrogenevolution |
_version_ |
1725981319359365120 |