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Zhang B, Gao H, Kang Y, Li X, Li Q, Zhai P, Hildebrandt D, Liu X, Wang Y, Qiao S. Molecular and Heterojunction Device Engineering of Solution-Processed Conjugated Reticular Oligomers: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution through High-Effective Exciton Separation. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2308535. [PMID: 38454537 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) face limited processability challenges as photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical water reduction. Herein, sub-10 nm benzothiazole-based colloidal conjugated reticular oligomers (CROs) are synthesized using an aqueous nanoreactor approach, and the end-capping molecular strategy to engineer electron-deficient units onto the periphery of a CRO nanocrystalline lattices (named CROs-Cg). This results in stable and processable "electronic inks" for flexible photoelectrodes. CRO-BtzTp-Cg and CRO-TtzTp-Cg expand the absorption spectrum into the infrared region and improve fluorescence lifetimes. Heterojunction device engineering is used to develop interlayer heterojunction and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) photoelectrodes with a hole transport layer, electron transport layer, and the main active layers, using a CROs/CROs-Cg or one-dimensional (1D) electron-donating polymer HP18 mixed solution via spinning coating. The ITO/CuI/CRO-TtzTp-Cg-HP18/SnO2/Pt photoelectrode shows a photocurrent of 94.9 µA cm‒2 at 0.4 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is 47.5 times higher than that of ITO/Bulk-TtzTp. Density functional theory calculations show reduced energy barriers for generating adsorbed H* intermediates and increased electron affinity in CROs-Cg. Mott-Schottky and charge density difference analyses indicate enhanced charge carrier densities and accelerated charge transfer kinetics in BHJ devices. This study lays the groundwork for large-scale production of COF nanomembranes and heterojunction structures, offering the potential for cost-effective, printable energy systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boying Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - Huimin Gao
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Yazhou Kang
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Xiaoming Li
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Qing Li
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Pengda Zhai
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Diane Hildebrandt
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, 08854, USA
| | - Xinying Liu
- Institute for Catalysis and Energy Solutions, University of South Africa, Florida, 1709, South Africa
| | - Yue Wang
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
| | - Shanlin Qiao
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, 050018, China
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