The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Hydrogen is a promising clean energy carrier due to its high energy density and zero-carbon emissions. However, conventional gray H₂ production emits CO₂, prompting interest in solar-driven H₂ generation via photocatalyst (PC) systems. Early studies focused on inorganic photocatalysts like TiO₂, which have limited visible light absorption due to their wide bandgap. In contrast, organic semiconductors provide tunable energy levels and visible light absorption, making them attractive for photocatalysis. Binary donor/acceptor organic nanoparticles have achieved high hydrogen evolution rates, but their performance is highly sensitive to bulk heterojunction morphology, which is difficult to control. To address this, single-component photocatalysts (SCPCs) are being explored. In this contribution, a new design strategy for SCPCs and their photocatalytic properties for hydrogen generation in water will be discussed.