Conducting Polymers for Water Splitting Applications

Abstract

Water splitting is one of the most known chemical reactions in which water is converted to O2 and H2. H2 is regarded as an excellent fuel for the future due to its high potential for replacement with fuel sources such as fossil fuels. This fuel can be created from various kinds of methods such as photolytic, water splitting, biomass, and fossil fuels. Hydrogen production via water splitting is a promising and economical way to generate energy from renewable energy sources. Recently, much research has been done on conductive polymers, which has led to significant progress in their application in the hydrogen production process. The use of conductive polymers is known as a new way to the development of hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier with a higher energy content than other fuels. Organic polymers called conducting polymers or intrinsically conducting polymers conduct electricity. Conducting polymers such as polyfuran, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), poly(pheny phenylene), polythiophene, polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polystyrene are playing an essential role in advancing materials science due to their exclusive properties (excellent optical and electrical properties). Therefore, they are recognized as an ideal group for efficient storage and conversion.KeywordsConducting polymersWater splittingHydrogen evolution reactionsOxygen evolution reactionsSolar water splitting