Transient absorption spectroscopic studies of linear polymeric photocatalysts for solar fuel generation

Organic polymer photocatalysts have garnered much interest in recent years, notably because of their photocatalytic activity toward hydrogen production from water. However, to rationalize the differences in activities between photocatalysts, it is crucial that their photodynamics are understood. Here, we provide an accessible introduction to the use of transient ultraviolet/visible absorption spectroscopy to study the photodynamics of linear polymeric photocatalysts through a review of literature studies. The principles of transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy, and the apparatus required, are briefly described. A step-by-step method to identify key species and unravel their kinetics is provided through exemplar spectra reported within the literature. This review provides the foundations for researchers new to the field of TA spectroscopy to design, perform, and interpret their own TA experiments to probe the photodynamics of organic photocatalysts.