Why Do Sulfone-Containing Polymer Photocatalysts Work So Well for Sacrificial Hydrogen Evolution from Water?

ABSTRACT: Many of the highest-performing polymer photocatalysts for sacrificial hydrogen evolution from water have contained dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone units in their polymer backbones. However, the reasons behind the dominance of this building block are not well understood. We study films, dispersions, and solutions of a new set of solution-processable materials, where the sulfone content is systematically controlled, to understand how the sulfone unit affects the three key processes involved in photocatalytic hydrogen generation in this system: light absorption; transfer of the photogenerated hole to the hole scavenger triethylamine (TEA); and transfer of the photogenerated electron to the palladium metal co-catalyst that remains in the polymer from synthesis. Transient absorption

SUBMITTER: Hillman SAJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9619400 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature