Abstract
Panchromatic ternary polymer dots (Pdots) consisting of two conjugated polymers (PFBT and PFODTBT) based on fluorene and benzothiadiazole groups, and one small molecular acceptor (ITIC) have been prepared and assessed for photocatalytic hydrogen production with the assistance of a Pt cocatalyst. Femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopic studies of the ternary Pdots have revealed both energy and charge transfer processes that occur on the time scale of sub-picosecond between the different components. They result in photogenerated electrons being located mainly at ITIC, which acts as both electron and energy acceptor. Results from cryo-transmission electron microscopy suggest that ITIC forms crystalline phases in the ternary Pdots, facilitating electron transfer from ITIC to the Pt cocatalyst and promoting the final photocatalytic reaction yield. Enhanced light absorption, efficient charge separation, and the ideal morphology of the ternary Pdots have rendered an external quantum efficiency up to 7% at 600 nm. Moreover, the system has shown a high stability over 120 h without obvious degradation of the photocatalysts.
Highlights
Global environment issues and increasing energy demands have led to an urgent requirement for clean and renewable energy to replace fossil fuel
Panchromatic ternary polymer dots (Pdots) involving both energy transfer and charge transfer processes have been prepared based on three light-absorbing components, PFBT, PFODTBT, and ITIC, and successfully applied for photocatalytic hydrogen production
The morphology of the Pdots obtained from cryo-TEM suggests that the ITIC has a layered crystalline structure, which is beneficial for the interaction with the catalyst and the photocatalytic reaction
Summary
Global environment issues and increasing energy demands have led to an urgent requirement for clean and renewable energy to replace fossil fuel. Panchromatic ternary Pdots consisting of two organic polymers as energy and electron donors and a small molecule as energy/ electron acceptor have been prepared and applied for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution with the assistance of a Pt cocatalyst, and have shown outstanding performance and stability. Final composition as well as concentration of Pdots solution was determined by follow: 100 μL of sample is freeze-dried by liquid nitrogen and dissolved in a certain amount of THF; the solution was measured by UV-vis to determine the final weight of. All beams are focused with a single f = 10 cm off-axis parabolic mirror to a 300 μm spot size in the sample Both pump and probe lights are redirected to the Newport.
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