The semiconducting properties of the system Polyaniline / 1.5-naphtalene disulfonic acid are investigated for the first time to assess its photocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evolution under visible light irradiation. PANI is thermally stable up to ~ 300 °C, above which a weight loss of ~ 1.2% occurs. The X-ray diffraction pattern shows broad peaks with a particle size of ~ 7 nm, leading to an active surface area of ∼ 400 m2 g−1. A direct optical transition at 1.96 eV, is determined from the diffuse reflectance spectrum. The electrical conductivity of PANI-NDSA follows an exponential law with activation energy of 0.24 eV. The p-type conduction of PANI-NDSA is evidenced from the (capacitance-2 – potential) characteristic plot; a flat band potential (Efb) of 0.82 VSCE and a holes density (NA) of 8.43× 1024 m-3 are determined in neutral solution (Na2SO4 0.1 M). The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, measured over an extended frequency domain (1 mHz - 1010 Hz), indicates the contribution of both the bulk and grain boundaries with a constant phase element (CPE). As application, PANI-NDSA is successfully tested for the hydrogen production upon visible light owing to the potential of its conduction band (-0.75 VSCE), less cathodic than that of H2O/H2 (~ -0.30 VSCE). H2 liberation rate of 3840 h-1 (g catalyst)-1 and a quantum efficiency of 0.34% under full light (29 mW cm-2) are obtained using Fe(CN)64- as reducing agent. The photoactivity is completely restored during the second cycle.
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