Molecular Engineering of Conjugated Acetylenic Polymers for Efficient Cocatalyst-free Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction

Sun H, Oener IH, Wang T, Zhang T, Selyshchev O, Neumann C, Fu Y, Liao Z, Xu S, Hou Y, Turchanin A, Zahn DRT, Zschech E, Weidinger IM, Zhang J, Feng X (2019)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2019

Journal

Angewandte Chemie International Edition Wiley

Book Volume: 58

Pages Range: 10368-10374

Journal Issue: 30

DOI: 10.1002/anie.201904978

Abstract

Conjugated polymers featuring tunable band gaps/positions and tailored active centers, are attractive photoelectrode materials for water splitting. However, their exploration falls far behind their inorganic counterparts. Herein, we demonstrate a molecular engineering strategy for the tailoring aromatic units of conjugated acetylenic polymers from benzene- to thiophene-based. The polarized thiophene-based monomers of conjugated acetylenic polymers can largely extend the light absorption and promote charge separation/transport. The C≡C bonds are activated for catalyzing water reduction. Using on-surface Glaser polycondensation, as-fabricated poly(2,5-diethynylthieno[3,2-b]thiophene) on commercial Cu foam exhibits a record H2-evolution photocurrent density of 370 μA cm−2 at 0.3 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode among current cocatalyst-free organic photocathodes (1–100 μA cm−2). This approach to modulate the optical, charge transfer, and catalytic properties of conjugated polymers paves a critical way toward high-activity organic photoelectrodes.

Involved external institutions

Technische Universität Dresden DE Germany (DE) Stanford University US United States (USA) (US) Technische Universität Chemnitz DE Germany (DE) Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena DE Germany (DE) Fraunhofer-Institut für Keramische Technologien und Systeme (IKTS) DE Germany (DE) Zhejiang University CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Sun, H., Oener, I.H., Wang, T., Zhang, T., Selyshchev, O., Neumann, C.,... Feng, X. (2019). Molecular Engineering of Conjugated Acetylenic Polymers for Efficient Cocatalyst-free Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 58(30), 10368-10374. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201904978

MLA:

Sun, Hanjun, et al. "Molecular Engineering of Conjugated Acetylenic Polymers for Efficient Cocatalyst-free Photoelectrochemical Water Reduction." Angewandte Chemie International Edition 58.30 (2019): 10368-10374.

BibTeX: Download