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Elsayed MH, Abdellah M, Alhakemy AZ, Mekhemer IMA, Aboubakr AEA, Chen BH, Sabbah A, Lin KH, Chiu WS, Lin SJ, Chu CY, Lu CH, Yang SD, Mohamed MG, Kuo SW, Hung CH, Chen LC, Chen KH, Chou HH. Overcoming small-bandgap charge recombination in visible and NIR-light-driven hydrogen evolution by engineering the polymer photocatalyst structure. Nat Commun 2024; 15:707. [PMID: 38267492 PMCID: PMC10808228 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45085-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Designing an organic polymer photocatalyst for efficient hydrogen evolution with visible and near-infrared (NIR) light activity is still a major challenge. Unlike the common behavior of gradually increasing the charge recombination while shrinking the bandgap, we present here a series of polymer nanoparticles (Pdots) based on ITIC and BTIC units with different π-linkers between the acceptor-donor-acceptor (A-D-A) repeated moieties of the polymer. These polymers act as an efficient single polymer photocatalyst for H2 evolution under both visible and NIR light, without combining or hybridizing with other materials. Importantly, the difluorothiophene (ThF) π-linker facilitates the charge transfer between acceptors of different repeated moieties (A-D-A-(π-Linker)-A-D-A), leading to the enhancement of charge separation between D and A. As a result, the PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit superior hydrogen evolution rates of 279 µmol/h and 20.5 µmol/h with visible (>420 nm) and NIR (>780 nm) light irradiation, respectively. Furthermore, PITIC-ThF Pdots exhibit a promising apparent quantum yield (AQY) at 700 nm (4.76%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hammad Elsayed
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, 11884, Cairo, Egypt
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Mohamed Abdellah
- Department of Chemistry, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, P.O. Box 15551, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemistry, Qena Faculty of Science, South Valley University, 83523, Qena, Egypt
- Chemical Physics and NanoLund, Lund University, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Ahmed Zaki Alhakemy
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71542, Egypt
| | - Islam M A Mekhemer
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Ahmed Esmail A Aboubakr
- Sustainable Chemical Science and Technology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, 30010, Taiwan
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2 Academia Rd., Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Bo-Han Chen
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Amr Sabbah
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Center of Atomic Initiative for New Materials, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Kun-Han Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Sheng Chiu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Jie Lin
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Che-Yi Chu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 40227, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Hsuan Lu
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Da Yang
- Institute of Photonics Technologies, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan
| | - Mohamed Gamal Mohamed
- Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, Center for Functional Polymers and Supramolecular Materials, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Shiao-Wei Kuo
- Department of Materials and Optoelectronic Science, Center for Functional Polymers and Supramolecular Materials, National Sun Yat-Sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Hsiung Hung
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128 Sec 2 Academia Rd., Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Li-Chyong Chen
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Center of Atomic Initiative for New Materials, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Kuei-Hsien Chen
- Institute of Atomic and Molecular Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Center for Condensed Matter Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ho-Hsiu Chou
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300044, Taiwan.
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Zhang B, Wang D, Cao J, Zhao C, Pan J, Liu D, Liu S, Zeng Z, Chen T, Liu G, Jiao S, Xu Z, Huang Y, Zhao L, Wang J. Efficient Doping Induced by Charge Transfer at the Hetero-Interface to Enhance Photocatalytic Performance. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:12924-12935. [PMID: 36854656 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c19209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The construction of heterojunction photocatalysts is an effective method to improve photocatalytic efficiency since the potential gradient and built-in electron field established at the junction could enhance the efficiency of charge separation and interfacial charge transfer. Nevertheless, heterojunction photocatalysts with strong built-in electron fields remain difficult to build since the two adjacent constitutes must be satisfied with an appropriate band alignment, redox potential, and carrier concentration gradient. Here, an efficient charge transfer-induced doping strategy is proposed to enhance the heterojunction built-in electron field for stable and efficient photocatalytic performance. Carrier transfer tests show that the rectification ratio of the n-TiO2-X/n-BiOI heterojunction is significantly enhanced after being coated with graphene oxide (GO). Consequently, both the hydrogen production and photodegradation performance of the GO composite heterojunction are considerably enhanced compared with pure TiO2-X, BiOI, and n-TiO2-X/n-BiOI. This work provides a facile method to prepare heterojunction photocatalysts with a high catalytic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingke Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Dongbo Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jiamu Cao
- School of Astronautics, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Chenchen Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jingwen Pan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Donghao Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Sihang Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Zhi Zeng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Tianyuan Chen
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Center for High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shujie Jiao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Zhikun Xu
- Guangdong University of Petrochemical Technology, Maoming 525000, China
| | - Yuewu Huang
- College of Science, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China
| | - Liancheng Zhao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
| | - Jinzhong Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology University, Harbin 150001, China
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Huang J, Yang S, Jiang S, Sun C, Song S. Entropy-Increasing Single-Atom Photocatalysts Strengthening the Polarization Field for Boosting H 2O Overall Splitting into H 2. ACS Catal 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c05014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Huang
- School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo330013, China
| | - Shan Yang
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Shandong Normal University, Wenhua East Road 88, Jinan250014, China
| | - Shujuan Jiang
- School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo330013, China
| | - Chuanzhi Sun
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Material Science, Shandong Normal University, Wenhua East Road 88, Jinan250014, China
| | - Shaoqing Song
- School of Materials Science & Chemical Engineering, Ningbo University, Fenghua Road 818, Ningbo330013, China
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Hillman SAJ, Sprick RS, Pearce D, Woods DJ, Sit WY, Shi X, Cooper AI, Durrant JR, Nelson J. Why Do Sulfone-Containing Polymer Photocatalysts Work So Well for Sacrificial Hydrogen Evolution from Water? J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:19382-19395. [PMID: 36251010 PMCID: PMC9619400 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c07103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Many of the highest-performing
polymer photocatalysts
for sacrificial
hydrogen evolution from water have contained dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone units in their polymer backbones.
However, the reasons behind the dominance of this building block are
not well understood. We study films, dispersions, and solutions of
a new set of solution-processable materials, where the sulfone content
is systematically controlled, to understand how the sulfone unit affects
the three key processes involved in photocatalytic hydrogen generation
in this system: light absorption; transfer of the photogenerated hole
to the hole scavenger triethylamine (TEA); and transfer of the photogenerated
electron to the palladium metal co-catalyst that remains in the polymer
from synthesis. Transient absorption spectroscopy and electrochemical
measurements, combined with molecular dynamics and density functional
theory simulations, show that the sulfone unit has two primary effects.
On the picosecond timescale, it dictates the thermodynamics of hole
transfer out of the polymer. The sulfone unit attracts water molecules
such that the average permittivity experienced by the solvated polymer
is increased. We show that TEA oxidation is only thermodynamically
favorable above a certain permittivity threshold. On the microsecond
timescale, we present experimental evidence that the sulfone unit
acts as the electron transfer site out of the polymer, with the kinetics
of electron extraction to palladium dictated by the ratio of photogenerated
electrons to the number of sulfone units. For the highest-performing,
sulfone-rich material, hydrogen evolution seems to be limited by the
photogeneration rate of electrons rather than their extraction from
the polymer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sam A J Hillman
- Department of Physics, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K.,Department of Chemistry, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Reiner Sebastian Sprick
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, U.K.,Department of Chemistry and Material Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Drew Pearce
- Department of Physics, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Duncan J Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Material Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - Wai-Yu Sit
- Department of Physics, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Xingyuan Shi
- Department of Physics, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
| | - Andrew I Cooper
- Department of Chemistry and Material Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 7ZD, U.K
| | - James R Durrant
- Department of Chemistry, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, 80 Wood Lane, London W12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Jenny Nelson
- Department of Physics, Centre for Processable Electronics, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, U.K
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