1
|
Lyons RJ, Sprick RS. Processing polymer photocatalysts for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. MATERIALS HORIZONS 2024; 11:3764-3791. [PMID: 38895815 DOI: 10.1039/d4mh00482e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Conjugated materials have emerged as competitive photocatalysts for the production of sustainable hydrogen from water over the last decade. Interest in these polymer photocatalysts stems from the relative ease to tune their electronic properties through molecular engineering, and their potentially low cost. However, most polymer photocatalysts have only been utilised in rudimentary suspension-based photocatalytic reactors, which are not scalable as these systems can suffer from significant optical losses and often require constant agitation to maintain the suspension. Here, we will explore research performed to utilise polymeric photocatalysts in more sophisticated systems, such as films or as nanoparticulate suspensions, which can enhance photocatalytic performance or act as a demonstration of how the polymer can be scaled for real-world applications. We will also discuss how the systems were prepared and consider both the benefits and drawbacks of each system before concluding with an outlook on the field of processable polymer photocatalysts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Jack Lyons
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Innovation Factory, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L7 3NY, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
O'Connor MM, Aubry TJ, Reid OG, Rumbles G. Charge Concentration Limits the Hydrogen Evolution Rate in Organic Nanoparticle Photocatalysts. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2210481. [PMID: 36972554 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202210481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Time-resolved microwave conductivity is used to compare aqueous-soluble organic nanoparticle photocatalysts and bulk thin films composed of the same mixture of semiconducting polymer and non-fullerene acceptor molecule and the relationship between composition, interfacial surface area, charge-carrier dynamics, and photocatalytic activity is examined. The rate of hydrogen evolution reaction by nanoparticles composed of various donor:acceptor blend ratio compositions is quantitatively measured, and it is found that the most active blend ratio displays a hydrogen quantum yield of 0.83% per photon. Moreover, it is found that nanoparticle photocatalytic activity corresponds directly to charge generation, and that nanoparticles have 3× more long-lived accumulated charges relative to bulk samples of the same material composition. These results suggest that, under the current reaction conditions, with ≈3× solar flux, catalytic activity by the nanoparticles is limited by the concentration of electrons and holes in operando and not a finite number of active surface sites or the catalytic rate at the interface. This provides a clear design goal for the next generation of efficient photocatalytic nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Max M O'Connor
- Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Taylor J Aubry
- Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Obadiah G Reid
- Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| | - Garry Rumbles
- Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
- Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Pang X, Li Y, Wu X, Zhang B, Hao M, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Qin C, Zhan H, Qin C. Phosphate ester functionalized fluorene-benzothiadiazole alternating copolymer/hydroxylated g-C 3N 4 heterojunctions for efficient hydrogen evolution under visible-light irradiation. J Colloid Interface Sci 2023; 652:1405-1416. [PMID: 37659309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.08.153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023]
Abstract
It is highly desirable to explore functionalized polymer semiconductor/g-C3N4 heterojunction photocatalysts with the tight interfacial connection for promoting the photogenerated electron-hole pair separation, improving the hydrophilicity, extending the visible light response and achieving the efficient visible light-driven H2 evolution. Herein, we synthesized novel poly[9,9-bis(3-ethyl phosphate propyl)fluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole] (PPFBT) with a phosphate ester on every repeating unit by the Suzuki polymerization and then fabricated PPFBT/hydroxylated g-C3N4 (PPFBT/CN-OH) heterojunctions via a surface hydroxyl-induced assembly process. The ratio-optimized 5PPFBT/CN-OH shows the hydrogen evolution activity of 2662.4 μmol·g-1·h-1, an 11.1-time enhancement compared to CN-OH. The improved photocatalytic activity is mainly attributed to the enhanced electron-hole pair separation due to the tight interfacial connection by hydrogen bond (P=O…H-O) and N…S interactions between PPFBT and CN-OH. It is verified that abundant phosphate ester groups of PPFBT improve the hydrophilicity and form coordination bonds with platinum (P=O:Pt) as a cocatalyst to facilitate water splitting for H2 evolution. It is also confirmed that the enhanced electron-hole pair separation is mainly dependent on the excited high-energy level electron transfer from CN-OH to PPFBT. This work provides a rational molecular design strategy for constructing efficient functionalized polymer semiconductor/g-C3N4 heterojunctions for sunlight-driven H2 evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xulong Pang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Li
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingmiao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Ming Hao
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanjiang Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongmei Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, People's Republic of China
| | - Chuanli Qin
- Key Laboratory of Functional Inorganic Material Chemistry (Ministry of Education), School of Chemistry and Materials Science, International Joint Research Center for Catalytic Technology, Heilongjiang University, Harbin 150080, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
McQueen E, Bai Y, Sprick RS. Impact of Interfaces, and Nanostructure on the Performance of Conjugated Polymer Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Production from Water. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 12:4299. [PMID: 36500922 PMCID: PMC9739915 DOI: 10.3390/nano12234299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The direct conversion of sunlight into hydrogen through water splitting, and by converting carbon dioxide into useful chemical building blocks and fuels, has been an active area of research since early reports in the 1970s. Most of the semiconductors that drive these photocatalytic processes have been inorganic semiconductors, but since the first report of carbon nitride organic semiconductors have also been considered. Conjugated materials have been relatively extensively studied as photocatalysts for solar fuels generation over the last 5 years due to the synthetic control over composition and properties. The understanding of materials' properties, its impact on performance and underlying factors is still in its infancy. Here, we focus on the impact of interfaces, and nanostructure on fundamental processes which significantly contribute to performance in these organic photocatalysts. In particular, we focus on presenting explicit examples in understanding the interface of polymer photocatalysts with water and how it affects performance. Wetting has been shown to be a clear factor and we present strategies for increased wettability in conjugated polymer photocatalysts through modifications of the material. Furthermore, the limited exciton diffusion length in organic polymers has also been identified to affect the performance of these materials. Addressing this, we also discuss how increased internal and external surface areas increase the activity of organic polymer photocatalysts for hydrogen production from water.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ewan McQueen
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK
| | - Yang Bai
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science Technology and Research, #08-03, 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, Singapore 138634, Singapore
| | - Reiner Sebastian Sprick
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Covalent organic frameworks with high quantum efficiency in sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Nat Commun 2022; 13:2357. [PMID: 35487901 PMCID: PMC9054748 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30035-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Organic semiconductors offer a tunable platform for photocatalysis, yet the more difficult exciton dissociation, compared to that in inorganic semiconductors, lowers their photocatalytic activities. In this work, we report that the charge carrier lifetime is dramatically prolonged by incorporating a suitable donor-acceptor (β-ketene-cyano) pair into a covalent organic framework nanosheet. These nanosheets show an apparent quantum efficiency up to 82.6% at 450 nm using platinum as co-catalyst for photocatalytic H2 evolution. Charge carrier kinetic analysis and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy characterizations verify that these modified covalent organic framework nanosheets have intrinsically lower exciton binding energies and longer-lived charge carriers than the corresponding nanosheets without the donor-acceptor unit. This work provides a model for gaining insight into the nature of short-lived active species in polymeric organic photocatalysts.
Collapse
|
6
|
Yi J, Wu X, Wu H, Guo J, Wu K, Zhang L. Facile synthesis of novel NH 2-MIL-53(Fe)/AgSCN heterojunction composites as a highly efficient photocatalyst for ciprofloxacin degradation and H 2 production under visible-light irradiation. REACT CHEM ENG 2022. [DOI: 10.1039/d1re00349f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
A novel NH2-MIL-53(Fe)/AgSCN composite photocatalyst was successfully prepared by a one-step chemical precipitation method, the composite show high photocatalytic activity for antibiotics degradation and H2 evolution under visible light irradiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jungang Yi
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianghui Wu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
| | - Huadong Wu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Guo
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Wu
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
- The College of Post and Telecommunication of Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430073, People's Republic of China
| | - Linfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Process of Ministry of Education, Hubei Key Laboratory of Novel Reactor and Green Chemical Technology, School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, People's Republic of China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, PR China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hu Y, Liu Y, Wu J, Li Y, Jiang J, Wang F. A Case Study on a Soluble Dibenzothiophene- S, S-dioxide-Based Conjugated Polyelectrolyte for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Production: The Film versus the Bulk Material. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:42753-42762. [PMID: 34491032 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c10748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Most of the traditional polymeric photocatalysts are generally insoluble in organic solvents, which might exclude their compatibility with large-area processing technology. Herein, we have synthesized a novel quaternized ammonium conjugated polyelectrolyte (PSO-FNBr) that can be processed to prepare an active film by a drop-casting method. PSO-FNBr shows a remarkably enhanced hydrogen evolution rate (HER) of 20.5 mmol h-1 g-1 in the thin film form in comparison to that of the powder form. Furthermore, we prepared a new type of thin film-based photocatalytic device, which provided a rare example of a "three-in-one" (rapid sampling + easy-to-use + cost-effective) photocatalytic system. The PSO-FNBr thin film over the Pt substrate can maintain a competitive HER, even though the Pt substrate was recycled and reused 50 times. Considering the features of impressive activity and low cost, we believe that PSO-FNBr will be a promising material for potential application in photocatalysis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yubo Hu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, P. R. China
| | - Yuxiang Liu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, P. R. China
| | - Jun Wu
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, P. R. China
| | - Yuda Li
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, P. R. China
| | - Jiaxing Jiang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710062, P. R. China
| | - Feng Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Tang J, Fu H, Jiang X, Cheng Z, Liao Y, Pu Q, Duan M. Conjugated Cationic Pp- x Formed on g-C 3N 4 for Photocatalyzed Water Splitting. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2021; 37:7668-7680. [PMID: 34126011 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.1c00594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polycationic Pp-x@g-C3N4 composite was synthesized through an in situ polymerization process of N-alkylpyridinium acetylenic alcohol bromide (p-x) above the surface of g-C3N4. The structure of p-0 and the Pp-x@g-C3N4 properties were checked by modern technologies. Photocatalytic tests of Pp-x@g-C3N4 in water splitting unveiled much better Pp-x@g-C3N4 hydrogen evolution activities by comparison with both g-C3N4 and Pp-0. The hydrogen production by Pp-0@g-C3N4 was 1654.5 μmol h-1 g-1, which is ∼26- and 22-fold greater in relation to what g-C3N4 and Pp-0 produced (62.7 and 75.0 μmol h-1 g-1, respectively), suggesting strong bilateral and synergistic interactions of g-C3N4 with Pp-0. Although the lengthening methylene chain in the polymers weakened the hydrogen generation ability of Pp-x@g-C3N4, the conjugated double bonds, solubilization, and dispersion of Pp-x polycationic surfactants made Pp-x@g-C3N4 superior to g-C3N4 in water splitting. Due to the readily available raw materials, a simple way of preparation (starting chemicals to p-0 to Pp-0@g-C3N4), high photocatalysis efficiency, light irritation stability, recyclable ability, and low toxicity, Pp-0@g-C3N4 is a good candidate for water splitting.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Tang
- Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, P. R. China
| | - Hongquan Fu
- Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, P. R. China
| | - Xiaohui Jiang
- Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, P. R. China
| | - Zhengjun Cheng
- Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, P. R. China
| | - Yunwen Liao
- Chemical Synthesis and Pollution Control Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, China West Normal University, Nanchong, Sichuan 637009, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Pu
- China Petroleum Engineering Company, Limited Southwest Company, Chengdu, Sichuan 610213, P. R. China
| | - Ming Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Oil and Gas Reservoir Geology and Exploitation, Southwest Petroleum University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610500, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Aitchison CM, Sprick RS. Conjugated nanomaterials for solar fuel production. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:634-646. [PMID: 33393561 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr07533g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Photocatalytic hydrogen production from water has the potential to fulfil future energy needs by producing a clean and storable fuel. In recent years polymer photocatalysts have attracted significant interest in an attempt to address these challenges. One reason organic photocatalysts have been considered an attractive target is their synthetic modularity, therefore, the ability to tune their opto-electronic properties by incorporating different building blocks. A wide range of factors has been investigated and in particular nano-sized particles have found to be highly efficient due to the size effect resulting from the ability of these to increase the number of charges reaching catalytic sites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M Aitchison
- Department of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA UK
| | - Reiner Sebastian Sprick
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, University of Strathclyde, Thomas Graham Building, 295 Cathedral Street, Glasgow G1 1XL, Scotland, UK.
| |
Collapse
|