Open AccessEnhanced Built‐in Electric Field Promotes Photocatalytic Hydrogen Performance of Polymers Derived from the Introduction of B←N Coordination Bond
Author(s) -
Ru Chenglong,
Chen Peiyan,
Wu Xuan,
Chen Changjuan,
Zhang Jin,
Zhao Hao,
Wu Jincai,
Pan Xiaobo
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
advanced science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.388
H-Index - 100
ISSN - 2198-3844
DOI - 10.1002/advs.202204055
Subject(s) - photocatalysis , hydrogen bond , materials science , electric field , hydrogen production , borane , hydrogen , polymer , boron , semiconductor , nanotechnology , chemical engineering , photochemistry , chemical physics , molecule , chemistry , catalysis , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , composite material , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
High concentrations of active carriers on the surface of a semiconductor through energy/electron transfer are the core process in the photocatalytic hydrogen production from water. However, it remains a challenge to significantly improve photocatalytic performance by modifying simple molecular modulation. Herein, a new strategy is proposed to enhance the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution performance using boron and nitrogen elements to construct B←N coordination bonds. Experimental results show that polynaphthopyridine borane ( PNBN ) possessing B←N coordination bonds shows a hydrogen evolution rate of 217.4 µmol h −1 , which is significantly higher than that of the comparison materials 0 µmol h −1 for polyphenylnaphthalene ( PNCC ) and 0.66 µmol h −1 for polypyridylnaphthalene ( PNNC ), mainly attributed to the formation of a strong built‐in electric field that promotes the separation of photo‐generated electrons/holes. This work opens up new prospects for the design of highly efficient polymeric photocatalysts at the molecular level.