Copper-surface-mediated synthesis of acetylenic carbon-rich nanofibers for active metal-free photocathodes

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03444-0
• Publication Date: 2018-03-13T21:37:35Z
• Authors: Tao Zhang; Yang Hou; Volodymyr Dzhagan; Zhongquan Liao; Guoliang Chai; Markus Löffler; Davide Olianas; Alberto Milani; Shunqi Xu; Matteo Tommasini; Dietrich R. T. Zahn; Zhikun Zheng; Ehrenfried Zschech; Rainer Jordan; Xinliang Feng
• Keywords: Photocurrent; Photoelectrochemical cell

The engineering of acetylenic carbon-rich nanostructures has great potential in many applications, such as nanoelectronics, chemical sensors, energy storage, and conversion, etc. Here we show the synthesis nanofibers via copper-surface-mediated Glaser polycondensation 1,3,5-triethynylbenzene on a variety conducting (e.g., copper, graphite, fluorine-doped tin oxide, titanium) non-conducting Kapton, glass, silicon dioxide) substrates. obtained (with optical bandgap 2.51 eV) exhibit photocatalytic activity photoelectrochemical cells, yielding saturated cathodic photocurrent ca. 10 µA cm-2 (0.3-0 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode). By incorporating thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units into nanofibers, redshift (ca. 100 nm) light absorption edge twofold are achieved, rivalling those state-of-the-art metal-free photocathodes graphitic carbon nitride 0.1-1 cm-2). This work highlights promise utilizing materials efficient sustainable for water reduction.