Coupling of MAPbI3 microcrystals with conductive polyaniline for efficient visible-light-driven H2 evolution†
Abstract
Although the methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3) hybrid perovskite has shown great potential in photocatalytic H2 evolution, its performance is significantly suppressed due to the insufficient charge separation. Herein, a strongly coupled 3D/1D composite photocatalyst of MAPbI3 microcrystals with conductive polyaniline nanowires (PANI NWs) is developed for efficient photocatalytic H2 evolution in MAPbI3-saturated HI aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The most active MAPbI3 (100 mg)–PANI NW (7 mg) composite exhibits a H2 evolution rate of 38.8 μmol h−1, which is 29 times higher than that of pristine MAPbI3. Spectroscopic and photoelectrochemical measurements reveal that the coupled PANI NWs can greatly improve the charge separation, thereby considerably enhancing the photocatalytic H2 evolution of the composite photocatalyst.