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Updated: Jan 31, 2026
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Layer-by-layer Synthesis and Transfer of Freestanding Conjugated Microporous Polymer Nanomembranes
Published on: December 15, 2015
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Regulating Charge-Transfer in Conjugated Microporous Polymers for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution
Venkata Suresh Mothika1, Papri Sutar1, Parul Verma1
1Molecular Materials Laboratory, Chemistry and Physics of, Materials Unit, School of Advanced Materials (SAMat), Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bangalore, 560064, India.
Chemistry (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
|January 9, 2019
Summary
Bandgap engineering in conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) enhances solar energy for water splitting. Donor-acceptor CMPs with tunable bandgaps show improved photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, with F0.5 CMP being most effective.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Photochemistry
- Polymer Chemistry
Background:
- Bandgap engineering of donor-acceptor conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) is crucial for improving solar energy harvesting in photocatalytic water splitting.
- Tuning the electronic properties of CMPs can enhance their efficiency in converting solar energy into chemical energy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize a series of donor-acceptor CMPs using tetraphenylethylene (TPE) as the donor and 9-fluorenone (F) as the acceptor.
- To investigate the effect of varying 9-fluorenone content on the bandgap, optical properties, and photocatalytic activity of these CMPs for hydrogen evolution.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of TPE-based donor-acceptor CMPs with varying F content (F0.1 CMP, F0.5 CMP, F2.0 CMP).
- Characterization of bandgaps, intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) absorption, and photoluminescence properties.
- Evaluation of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity under visible-light irradiation.
Main Results:
- Synthesized CMPs exhibited tunable bandgaps ranging from 2.8 to 2.1 eV with increasing 9-fluorenone content.
- Donor-acceptor CMPs showed ICT absorption at 480 nm and tunable emission from green to red (540-580 nm).
- Photocatalytic hydrogen evolution was significantly enhanced in donor-acceptor CMPs compared to the F0.0 CMP, with F0.5 CMP showing the highest activity at an optimal bandgap of 2.3 eV.
Conclusions:
- Donor-acceptor CMPs offer a promising strategy for efficient solar-driven hydrogen production.
- Bandgap tuning and enhanced visible-light absorption are key factors for improved photocatalytic performance.
- The synthesized polymers demonstrate excellent dispersibility and substrate coating capabilities for practical applications.
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