Soluble polyfluorene dots as photocatalyst for light-driven methylene blue degradation and hydrogen generation

Recently, polymer dots (Pdots) possessing conjugated structures have attracted the attention of researchers for use as photocatalysts for H-2 evolution reactions. Herein, soluble Pdots (ca. 30 nm) based on the semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PFO) were introduced as a photocatalyst for photodegradation activity and light-driven hydrogen generation by a nanoprecipitation method. A photodegradation activity study of these Pdots (PFO-Pdots) with methylene blue (MB) showed a good ability to degrade MB in aqueous solution under simulated light. Moreover, the PFO-Pdots exhibited a good H-2 production rate up to 1.20 +/- 0.04 mmol h(-1) g(-1) without platinum or rhodium as a cocatalyst. According to the I-V curves and transient photocurrent response study, it was obvious that a significant photocurrent of the PFO-Pdots was generated under light irradiation. The low recombination rate of the photogenerated carriers and shortened charge diffusion path led to a good photocatalytic H-2 evolution rate. These phenomena suggested that the conjugated Pdots only composed of C, H, and O elements had good photocatalytic activity, and it was a powerful supplement to existing polymer photocatalytic systems. Moreover, PFO-Pdots had better photocatalytic activity in water than pure PFO. This study shows that PFO-Pdots or conjugated Pdots may be promising candidates in the field of photocatalysis in the future.

Automated summary

Polymer dots (Pdots) with conjugated structures have been researched as potential photocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reactions. Soluble Pdots based on semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) show good photocatalytic activity for photodegradation and hydrogen generation. These Pdots exhibit a high hydrogen production rate without the need for platinum or rhodium cocatalysts and may serve as promising candidates for future photocatalysis applications.