Fluoro-polymer/TiO2 based photocatalysts for high efficiency hydrogen generation

In view of limited number of studies on photoreforming of synthetic polymers, herein, a series of new glycopolymers are synthesized via RAFT polymerization to obtain diblock copolymers containing fluorinated and non- fluorinated segments in the glucopyranoside. These glycopolymers are used as probes to investigate photo- catalytic reactions at different pH values of the modulated TiO2 photocatalyst. Through structural and surface characterizations, photocatalytic activities are investigated. Fluoro-polymers with deacetylated glucose, hydrophilic segment, PGD such as PPFPM-b-PGD and PPFBM-b-PGD could synergistically increase hydrogen generation rate up to 1368 mu mol g-1h- 1 and 1549 mu mol g-1h- 1 with quantum yields of 3.34 % and 3.79 % compared to non-fluoro glycopolymers. The presence of both fluorinated and non-fluorinated groups in diblock copolymers enhanced the rate of photocatalytic hydrogen generation compared to the homopolymer. The accelerated photo- reforming is attributed to in-situ fluorine-doped TiO2 along with high affinity and activation of water molecules. These polymers can generate hydrogen via photo-reforming process.