Amino-functionalised Conjugated Porous Polymers for Improved Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Two novel truxene-based conjugated porous polymers (CPPs): Tr-F8 and Tr-F3N with octyl and amino side chains, were designed for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The introduction of hydrophilic amino side chains significantly improves the wettability of Tr-F3N, resulting in largely enhanced hydrogen evolution rate (HER) in comparison with that of hydrophobic octyl functionalised Tr-F8. The density functional theoretical simulation indicates that the amino groups can enhance the interaction between H2O molecules and photocatalysts at a molecular level, resulting in more efficient charge transfer. As a result, a high HER over 500 μmol h-1g-1 was achieved for Tr-F3N with triethanolamine as the sacrificial electron donor in the absence of co-catalysts. Moreover, a positive correlation between the wettability and HER of CPPs was obtained through structural evolution on CPPs by increasing their amino group density. Our work formulates a novel design guideline for organic photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution, which can be used as a universe strategy to improve the photocatalytic activity of organic photocatalysts.