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Organic Polymer Dots as Photocatalysts for Visible Light‐Driven Hydrogen Generation
Author(s) -
Wang Lei,
FernándezTerán Ricardo,
Zhang Lei,
Fernandes Daniel L. A.,
Tian Lei,
Chen Hong,
Tian Haining
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201607018
Subject(s) - photochemistry , visible spectrum , photocatalysis , catalysis , polystyrene , polymer , hydrogen production , hydrogen , ethylene oxide , electron transfer , chemistry , materials science , chemical engineering , copolymer , organic chemistry , optoelectronics , engineering
For the first time, organic semiconducting polymer dots (Pdots) based on poly[(9,9′‐dioctylfluorenyl‐2,7‐diyl)‐co‐(1,4‐benzo‐{2,1′,3} thiadiazole)] (PFBT) and polystyrene grafting with carboxyl‐group‐functionalized ethylene oxide (PS‐PEG‐COOH) are introduced as a photocatalyst towards visible‐light‐driven hydrogen generation in a completely organic solvent‐free system. With these organic Pdots as the photocatalyst, an impressive initial rate constant of 8.3 mmol h −1 g −1 was obtained for visible‐light‐driven hydrogen production, which is 5‐orders of magnitude higher than that of pristine PFBT polymer under the same catalytic conditions. Detailed kinetics studies suggest that the productive electron transfer quench of the excited state of Pdots by an electron donor is about 40 %. More importantly, we also found that the Pdots can tolerate oxygen during catalysis, which is crucial for further application of this material for light‐driven water splitting.