Wang Xinchen, Maeda Kazuhiko, Thomas Arne, Takanabe Kazuhiro, Xin Gang, Carlsson Johan M, Domen Kazunari, Antonietti Markus
Max-Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Department of Colloid Chemistry, Research Campus Golm, 14424 Postdam, Germany.
Nat Mater. 2009 Jan;8(1):76-80. doi: 10.1038/nmat2317. Epub 2008 Nov 9.
The production of hydrogen from water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal future energy source, independent of fossil reserves. For an economical use of water and solar energy, catalysts that are sufficiently efficient, stable, inexpensive and capable of harvesting light are required. Here, we show that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor. Contrary to other conducting polymer semiconductors, carbon nitride is chemically and thermally stable and does not rely on complicated device manufacturing. The results represent an important first step towards photosynthesis in general where artificial conjugated polymer semiconductors can be used as energy transducers.
利用催化剂和太阳能从水中制取氢气是一种理想的未来能源，不受化石燃料储备的限制。为了经济地利用水和太阳能，需要有足够高效、稳定、廉价且能够捕获光的催化剂。在此，我们表明一种丰富的材料——聚合氮化碳，在牺牲性供体存在的情况下，能够在可见光照射下从水中产生氢气。与其他导电聚合物半导体不同，氮化碳在化学和热方面都很稳定，并且不依赖复杂的器件制造。这些结果代表了在一般光合作用方面迈出的重要第一步，即人工共轭聚合物半导体可作为能量转换器件。
