Water–Alcohol-Soluble Hyperbranched Polyelectrolytes and Their Application in Polymer Solar Cells and Photocatalysis

Abstract

We report here a series of water–alcohol-soluble hyperbranched polyelectrolytes, which can be used as both cathode interfacial materials (CIMs) in polymer solar cells (PSCs) and organic photocatalysts for hydrogen or oxygen evolution. Hyperbranched polyelectrolytes (HD-Br, HN-Br, and HP-Br) are quaternization-polymerized from 1,3,5-tri­(pyridin-4-yl)­benzene and alkyl bromide terminated conjugated moieties, including diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), naphthalene diimide (NDI), and perylenediimide (PDI) moieties. These hyperbranched polyelectrolytes possess good water/alcohol solubility and a semiconductive property, which render them good candidates for applications in PSCs and photocatalysis. In PSCs, these hyperbranched polyelectrolytes could lower the work function of the metal electrode, facilitate electron collection, and improve the photovoltaic performance. In photocatalysis, these hyperbranched polyelectrolytes show good water dispersity and provide good interface contact between polyelectrolytes and water, resulting in efficient photocatalytic hydrogen or oxygen evolution.

Dual‐Function Fluorescent Covalent Organic Frameworks: HCl Sensing and Photocatalytic H2 Evolution from Water

“…[8,9] Most inorganic photocatalysts are limited by their wide bandgaps (thereby absorbing photons within relatively short spans of wavelengths, leaving most of the solar spectrum inaccessible), [10] while organic semiconductors have rarely been investigated, even though they have many attractive properties (e.g., the capacity to absorb multiple photons, suitable ability to transport charge carriers, and, more particularly, diverse synthetic modularity for tailoring of these properties). [11] Graphene oxide, poly(p-phenylene), conjugated copolymers, [12][13][14] polymer Dots, [15,16] hydrophilic polymers, [17,18] metal-organic frameworks, and graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 , abbreviated as CN) have been investigated most widely as photocatalysts for the drive toward green and sustainable energy production. CN is a particularly promising metal-free photocatalyst for H 2 evolution because it is nontoxic, inexpensive, and highly chemically and thermally stable.…”

Supramolecular Depolymerization in the Mixture of Two Poor Solvents: Mechanistic Insights and Modulation of Supramolecular Polymerization of Ionic π‐Systems

“…Moreover,t he results presented here are also useful to tailor the supramolecular organization and optoelectronic functions of recently developed ionic p-systems that are processable in environmentally benign solvents such as water and alcohols. [67]…”

“…Moreover,t he results presented here are also useful to tailor the supramolecular organization and optoelectronic functions of recently developed ionic p-systems that are processable in environmentally benign solvents such as water and alcohols. [67] Figure 5. Representativemoleculard ynamics snapshots of 50 vol% of IPA in water (a) along x,(b) along y and (c) along z-directions showing clusteredw ater molecules (red color) as well as isopropanol molecules (carbon atoms-grey and oxygen atoms-blue color).…”

Hydrophilic Conjugated Materials for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…Extending the dimensions of CPEs could derive novel CPEs for photocatalytic applications. Rafiq et al [24] synthesized a hyperbranched polyelectrolyte (HDÀ Br, Scheme 1) through quaternization polymerization from 1,3,5-tri(pyridin-4-yl) benzene and diketopyrrolopyrrole moiety. HDÀ Br possesses good visible-light absorption and excellent water dispersity.…”