In situ growth MoO3 nanoflake on conjugated polymer: An advanced photocatalyst for hydrogen evolution from water solution under solar light

• MoO3/PI photocatalysts were synthesized by in situ epitaxial growth method.
• MoO3 nanoflake on polymer is dominant in (010) crystal face and high dispersion.
• In situ grown MoO3 nanoflakes suppress the radiative recombination of PI.
• The photocatalytic performance of 3.0MoO3/PI is more effective than 3.0Pt/PI.

A series of MoO3/PI composite photocatalysts were prepared via a facile in situ solid-thermal approach. Characterization results revealed that the growth of MoO3 nanoflakes epitaxial (010) face on the surface of PI and introduction of Mo did not change the skeleton structure but enhance the crystallinity of polyimide. The stronger interaction between MoO3 and substrate PI leads to the formation of Mo–N band and Mo5+ species. The measurements for the optical and electronic properties of MoO3/PI composites confirmed that MoO3 nanoflakes on the surface PI not only induce the absorption of visible light but also suppressed the radiative recombination of charge carriers, which endows the excellent photocatalytic activity of MoO3/PI samples in hydrogen evolution from a CH3OH–H2O solution 9:1 by volume) under solar energy driven. The enhancement of MoO3 nanoflake for the photocatalytic performance of PI is even more effective than that of Pt at the same loading amount. This work provides a promising choice to substitute noble metal as the cocatalyst on polymer photocatalyst and take a step forward effective utilization of renewable energy.

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