Triazine-Based Conjugated Microporous Polymers With Different Linkage Units for Visible Light-Driven Hydrogen...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Photocatalysis
• Renewable Energy

Background:

• Conjugated microporous polymers (CMPs) are 2D materials with potential for visible light-driven water splitting.
• Enhancing the microstructure and electronic properties of CMPs is crucial for efficient hydrogen evolution.
• Optimizing photocatalytic performance for hydrogen production remains a significant challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and synthesize novel CMPs with improved photocatalytic activity for hydrogen evolution.
• To investigate the structure-property relationships influencing photocatalytic performance.
• To demonstrate the efficacy of molecular design in optimizing CMPs for water splitting.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of two analogous CMPs (CMP-1 and CMP-2) via Pd-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura coupling.
• Incorporation of triazine and dibenzothiophene-S,S-dioxide units into the polymer backbone.
• Comparative analysis of light capture, charge carrier separation, and recombination rates.

Main Results:

• CMP-1 and CMP-2 exhibited excellent light absorption capabilities.
• CMP-1 showed significantly faster charge carrier separation and lower recombination rates compared to CMP-2.
• CMP-1 achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 9,698.53 μmol g⁻¹h⁻¹, approximately double that of CMP-2.

Conclusions:

• Molecular design, specifically the connection of triazine units to benzene versus thiophene, critically impacts CMP photocatalytic performance.
• CMP-1's enhanced hydrogen evolution rate is attributed to its superior charge carrier dynamics.
• This study highlights molecular engineering as a powerful strategy for developing advanced CMP photocatalysts.