Conjugated Polymers: Catalysts for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

• Published in: Angewandte Chemie International Edition Vol. 55; no. 51; pp. 15712 - 15727
• Main Authors: Zhang, Guigang, Lan, Zhi-An, Wang, Xinchen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany Blackwell Publishing Ltd 19.12.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Edition: International ed. in English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; conjugation; hydrogen; photocatalysis; Photochemicals; Photosynthesis; Polymers; Solar energy; water splitting; hydrogen; polymers; water splitting; photocatalysis; conjugation
• ISSN: 1433-7851; 1521-3773; 1521-3773
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201607375

Conjugated polymers, comprising fully π‐conjugated systems, present a new generation of heterogeneous photocatalysts for solar‐energy utilization. They have three key features, namely robustness, nontoxicity, and visible‐light activity, for photocatalytic processes, thus making them appealing candidates for scale‐up. Presented in this Minireview, is a brief summary on the recent development of various promising polymer photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution from aqueous solutions, including linear polymers, planarized polymers, triazine/heptazine polymers, and other related organic conjugated semiconductors, with a particular focus on the rational manipulation in the composition, architectures, and optical and electronic properties that are relevant to photophysical and photochemical properties. Some future trends and prospects for organic conjugated photocatalysts in artificial photosynthesis, by water splitting, are also envisaged. Split up: Organic conjugated photocatalysts provide an emerging platform for sustainable H2 production, through water splitting, by artificial photosynthesis. The catalysts have unique properties, including light weight, low cost, accessibility, and fine‐tunability of chemical composition, electronic structure, surface properties, and texture.