Polyaniline film-based wireless photo reactor for hydrogen generation through exciton mediated proton reduction

Publication date: 10 March 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 112
Author(s): Smita Masid Roy, Nageswara N. Rao, Alexandre Herissan, Christophe Colbeau-Justin
The unique light absorption property of semiconductors has been exploited to build photovoltaic (PV), photo electrochemical solar cells (PESC) and photocatalytic (PC) reactors that not only convert sunlight into electrical energy but also drive useful chemical reactions. Hydrogen, the clean fuel of 21st century has been targeted for several decades. However, the above systems possess complex architecture with two or more semiconductor-solution interfaces that are often plagued with material instability and show poor photon conversion efficiency. Here we demonstrate a simple pristine polyaniline (PANI) film based photo H2 generating system. The 'wireless' system with only one PANI/solution interface, utilizes internal redox chemistry in the conjugated polymer for 'photo exciton' formation and charge separation. The electrons migrate to the PANI/aq. H2SO4 interface and reduce H⁺ to produce H2. The polymer film is light weight, flexible, and solution-processable. The reported system is simple and scalable for high volume production of hydrogen.

Graphical abstract

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