Polymer Wrapping Improves Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Photoelectronic and photothermal effects are two major effects that can promote the performance of photocatalysis. Developing a simple and versatile method to utilize these two effects can largely promote the performance of photocatalysts. In this study, a simple and feasible polymer wrapping strategy is proposed to improve the catalytic activity and stability of photocatalysts in HER. The PMMA-wrapped Pt/g-C₃N₄ demonstrates a high HER rate of 8.84 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹, which is 1.5 folds of that of unwrapped Pt/g-C₃N₄. Both experimental results and theoretical calculations demonstrate that PMMA wrapping not only improves light absorption but also enhances charge separation and local heating. Notably, the photothermal effect of Pt/g-C₃N₄ is significantly enhanced after PMMA wrapping, dominating the catalysis enhancement. More importantly, the strategy is highly versatile and can be applied to various photocatalytic systems. Overall, this work provides a simple and practical approach for designing and fabricating highly efficient photocatalysts, and this strategy may also be extended to many other photocatalysis systems.