1 research outputs found
Photocathode Chromophore–Catalyst Assembly via Layer-By-Layer Deposition of a Low Band-Gap Isoindigo Conjugated Polyelectrolyte
Low
band-gap conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) can serve as efficient
chromophores for use on photoelectrodes for dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical
cells. Herein is reported a novel CPE based on polyÂ(isoindigo-<i>co</i>-thiophene) with pendant sodium butylsulfonate groups
(PiIT) and its use in construction of layer-by-layer (LbL) chromophore–catalyst
assemblies with a Pt-based H<sup>+</sup> reduction catalyst (PAA-Pt)
for water reduction. A novel Stille polymerization/postpolymerization
ion-exchange strategy was used to convert an organic-soluble CPE to
the water-soluble polyÂ(isoindigo-<i>co</i>-thiophene). The
anionic PiIT polyelectrolyte- and polyacrylate-stabilized Pt-nanoparticles
(PAA-Pt) were codeposited with cationic polyÂ(diallyldimethylammonium)
chloride (PDDA) onto inverse opal (IO), nanostructured indium tin
oxide film (nITO) (IO nITO) atop fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO), by
using LbL self-assembly. To evaluate the performance of novel conjugated
PiIT//PAA-Pt chromphore–catalyst assemblies, interassembly
hole transfer was investigated by photocurrent density measurements
on FTO//IO nITO electrodes. Enhanced cathodic photocurrent is observed
for the polychromophore–catalyst assemblies, compared to electrodes
modified with only PiIT, pointing toward photoinduced hole transfer
from the excited PilT to the IO nITO. Prolonged photoelectrolysis
experiments reveal H<sub>2</sub> production with a Faradaic yield
of approximately 45%. This work provides new routes to carry out visible-light-driven
water reduction using photocathode assemblies based on low band-gap
CPEs