Record photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from organic semiconductor heterojunction nanoparticles

Abstract

A nanoparticle comprises an internal D/A heterojunction, wherein the nanoparticle comprises a HER rate of 64,426±7022 μmolh−1g−1 under broadband visible light illumination. Measured EQEs of the nanoparticle throughout a visible spectrum exceed 5% at 660 to 700 nm. Methods may include fabricating a nanoparticle comprising: preparing individual stock solutions of PTB7-TH and EH-IDTBR in chloroform; heating the individual stock solutions to a complete dissolution; filtering the individual stock solutions; preparing a nanoparticle precursor solution from the filtered individual stock solutions by mixing the individual stock solutions in a ratio of 0-100% EH-IDTBR adding a portion of the nanoparticle precursor solution to a solution of surfactant (SDS or TEBS) in water and mixing to form a pre-emulsion; sonicating the pre-emulsion to form a mini-emulsion; heating the mini-emulsion to remove the chloroform to thereby form a surfactant stabilized nanoparticle dispersion; and filtering the nanoparticle.

Keywords Photocatalytic hydrogen, Nanoparticle, EQEs, visible spectrum, Individual stock solution