Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) in Triphasic Electrochemistry: Perspectives

Polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIMs) as molecularly rigid polymers have emerged as a new class of gas permeable glassy materials. They offer excellent processability and a range of potential applications also in electrochemical processes. Particularly interesting is the ability of some PIM films to remain gas-permeable/binding even in the presence of (aqueous) liquid electrolyte to give triphasic interfacial reactivity. Gaseous reagents or products (such as hydrogen or oxygen) are bound probably into hydrophobic regions in the wet PIM film to avoid macroscopic bubble formation and to enhance both the surface reactivity and the apparent activity of the gas solute close to the electrode/catalyst surface. The photoelectrochemical formation of hydrogen gas close to a platinum electrode is enhanced by PIM1, which is presented as an example of energy harvesting via molecular H2 “energy carrier” transport.