Efficient Photocatalytic Hydrogen and Oxygen Evolution by Side‐Group Engineered Benzodiimidazole Oligomers with Strong Built‐in Electric Fields and Short‐Range Crystallinity

• DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212243
• Publication Date: 2022-09-20T09:41:31Z
• Authors: Jingyi Xu; Wenlu Li; Weixu Liu; Jianfang Jing; Kunfeng Zhang; Liping Liu; Jun Yang; Enwei Zhu; Junshan Li; Yongfa Zhu
• Keywords: Oligomer

The insufficient charge separation and sluggish exciton transport severely limit the utilization of polymeric photocatalysts. To resolve above issues, we incorporate bountiful carboxyl substituents within a novel benzodiimidazole oligomer assemble it into crystalline semiconductor. photocatalyst is polar, hydrophilic, short-range crystalline, capable both hydrogen oxygen evolution. introduction side-groups adds asymmetry to local structure increases built-in electric field. Further, accelerated carrier transfer enabled via crystallinity. superior production rates 18.63 2.87 mmol g-1 h-1 represent one best performances ever reported among dual-functional Our work initiates studies on high-performance photocatalysts, opening new frontier produce solar fuel.