A library of 237 organic binary/ternary nanohybrids
consisting of conjugated polymers donors and both fullerene and non-fullerene molecular
acceptors was prepared and screened for sacrificial photocatalytic hydrogen
evolution. These donor-acceptor nanohybrids (DANHs) showed significantly
enhanced hydrogen evolution rates compared with the parent donor or acceptor compounds.
DANHs of <a></a><a>a polycarbazole</a>-based donor combined with a methanofullerene
acceptor (PCDTBT/PC<sub>60</sub>BM) showed a high hydrogen evolution rate of 105.2 mmol
g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup> under visible light (λ >
420 nm). This DANH photocatalyst produced 5.9
times more hydrogen than a sulfone-containing polymer (P10) under the same
conditions, which is one of the most efficient organic photocatalysts reported
so far. An apparent quantum yield of hydrogen evolution of 3.0 % at 595 nm was
measured for this DANH. The photocatalytic activity of the DANHs, which in
optimized cases reached 179.0 mmol g<sup>-1</sup> h<sup>-1</sup>, is attributed
to efficient charge transfer at the polymer donor/molecular acceptor interface.
We also show that ternary donor<sub>A</sub>-donor<sub>B</sub>-acceptor
nanohybrids can give higher activities than binary donor-acceptor hybrids in
some cases.
Conjugated Polymers with Oligoethylene Glycol Side Chains for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution