Efficient non-metal based conducting polymers for photocatalytic hydrogen production: comparative study between polyaniline, polypyrrole and PEDOT

摘要: Incorporation of conducting polymers (CPs) with TiO2 is considered a promising pathway toward the fabrication highly efficient non-metal based photocatalysts. Herein, we report TiO2@polyaniline, TiO2@polypyrrole, and TiO2@poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) photocatalyst heterostructures via facile wet incipient impregnation method. The mass ratios CPs in composites were optimized. structure, morphology, optical surface texture samples characterized by XRD, TEM, TGA, DRS, N2-physisorption techniques. TiO2@2PEDOT, TiO2@2PPy, TiO2@5PAn found to exhibit highest H2 evolution rate (HER) 1.37, 2.09, 3.1 mmol h−1 g−1, respectively. Compared bare TiO2, HER was significantly enhanced 16, 24, 36-fold, Photoelectrochemical measurements (CV, CA EIS) conducted, evaluate photoelectric properties synthesized assist understanding photocatalytic mechanism. deposition method plays key-role forming photocatalyst/CP interface. This simple route provide an excellent interface for charge transfer between composite components compared chemisorption situ polymerization methods. study sheds light on effect CP incorporation semiconductor photocatalysts, as cheap matrix, performance.