Highly Efficient Platinum-Free Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution From Low-cost Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles
Journal article, 2025
While the interest in hydrogen photocatalysis from organic semiconductors is rapidly growing, there is a necessity to achieve hydrogen production without platinum (Pt), considering its price, availability and toxicity. In this work, this is demonstrated that high hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) efficiencies can be achieved without the use of Pt. A series of low-cost conjugated polymers are designed around the dibenzothiophene-S,S-sulfoxide (BTSO) unit, and self-assembled as nanoparticles in water via the nanoprecipitation technique. This is highlighted that how side chain engineering, nanoparticle morphology and pH influence the hydrogen evolution rate. Optoelectronic properties are improved through a Donor-Acceptor structure, resulting in an unprecedented hydrogen evolution reaction rate of 209 mmol g−1 h−1 in the absence of Pt. A clear correlation between high efficiencies and number of BTSO units within the polymer backbone can be established. The design rules pioneer the design of future organic materials is presented for a cost-efficient and sustainable hydrogen photocatalysis.
dibenzothiophene sulfone
hydrogen photocatalysis
Pt-free
aqueous dispersions
conjugated polymer
Author
Alexandre Holmes
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Jingwen Pan
Harbin Institute of Technology
Uppsala University
Li Wang
Changzhou University
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry
Leandro Rezende Franco
Applied Chemistry 8.2
Karlstad University
Rafael R. Bicudo
University of Sao Paulo (USP)
Karlstad University
Uppsala University
Bo Albinsson
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemistry and Biochemistry
C. Moyses Araujo
Karlstad University
Uppsala University
W. G. Zhu
Changzhou University
Dongbo Wang
Harbin Institute of Technology
Thuc Quyen Nguyen
University of California
Jiefang Zhu
Uppsala University
Ergang Wang
Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
Advanced Materials
09359648 (ISSN) 15214095 (eISSN)
Vol. In PressBiodegradable semiconducting polymers for transient electronics
Formas (2023-01008), 2024-01-01 -- 2026-12-31.
Subject Categories (SSIF 2025)
Polymer Chemistry
DOI
10.1002/adma.202507702