Conducting-Polymer Nanocomposites as Synergistic Supports That Accelerate Electro-Catalysis: PEDOT/Nano Co3O4/rGO as a Photo Catalyst of Oxygen Production from Water

This work describes how conducting polymer nanocomposites can be employed as synergistic supports that significantly accelerate the rate of electro-catalysis. The nanocomposite PEDOT/nano-Co3O4/rGO is discussed an example in this respect, which specific for photo electro-catalytic oxygen (O2) generation from water using light (PEDOT = poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); rGO reduced graphene oxide). We show PEDOT and conductive additive may used to notably amplify O2-generation by nano catalyst, Co3O4. A composite film containing precise molar ratio 7.18 (C; PEDOT):1 (Co):5.18 rGO) exhibited high photocatalytic activity (pH 12) evolution reaction (OER) at 0.80 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), with a current density 1000 ± 50 μA/cm2 (including photocurrent 500 μA/cm2), achieved after >42 h operation under illumination intensity 0.25 sun. By comparison, best industrial Pt, yielded much lower 150 same conditions. Oxygen gas was sole product reaction.