Polyaniline film-based wireless photo reactor for hydrogen generation through exciton mediated proton reduction

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 112; pp. 351 - 358
• Main Authors: Roy, Smita Masid, Rao, Nageswara N., Herissan, Alexandre, Colbeau-Justin, Christophe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 10.03.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Chemical reactions; Chemistry; Clean energy; Electrochemistry; Electromagnetic absorption; Electronics industry; Film casting; Fluorescence; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Hydrogen storage; Interface stability; Interfaces; Nuclear fuels; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Polyaniline; Polyanilines; Polymer films; Proton reduction; Reactors; Semiconductors; Solar cells; TRMC; Weight reduction; Wireless device; Film casting; TRMC; Proton reduction; Polyaniline; Wireless device
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2017.02.013

The unique light absorption property of semiconductors has been exploited to build photovoltaic (PV), photo electrochemical solar cells (PESC) and photocatalytic (PC) reactors that not only convert sunlight into electrical energy but also drive useful chemical reactions. Hydrogen, the clean fuel of 21st century has been targeted for several decades. However, the above systems possess complex architecture with two or more semiconductor-solution interfaces that are often plagued with material instability and show poor photon conversion efficiency. Here we demonstrate a simple pristine polyaniline (PANI) film based photo H2 generating system. The ‘wireless’ system with only one PANI/solution interface, utilizes internal redox chemistry in the conjugated polymer for ‘photo exciton’ formation and charge separation. The electrons migrate to the PANI/aq. H2SO4 interface and reduce H+ to produce H2. The polymer film is light weight, flexible, and solution-processable. The reported system is simple and scalable for high volume production of hydrogen. [Display omitted] •The Polyaniline (PANI) film-based wireless photo reactor for H2 generation is reported.•The PANI film is light weight, flexible and solution processable.•PANI/solution interface constitutes ‘wireless’ system and redox chemistry within PANI polymer responsible for H2.•PANI films generate more number of charge carriers under visible light.•Presence of charge carriers on the PANI film surface is detected under fluorescence microscope & TRMC measurements..