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The replacement of the oxygen evolution reaction with a higher valuable oxidation process can overcome the sluggish kinetics to promote renewable hydrogen production, simultaneously achieving energy storage and environmental protection. However, the effective integration of two redox half-reactions in one photocatalytic reaction system is still a challenge. Here the p-diethynylbenzene and dibenzothiophene sulfone copolymer (PEB-DBT) is well-designed to couple with α-Fe2O3via a palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-linking reaction, forming a heterojunction with strong interfacial interaction. In particular, there is a different preferred charge transfer path of PEB-DBT/α-Fe2O3via modulating the work function difference in various solutions. The results suggest that the Z-scheme electron transfer pathway is predominant in triethanolamine (TEOA) and ofloxacin (OFL) solutions, instead of the type-II heterojunction that forms in H2O or methylene blue (MB). The Z-scheme PEB-DBT/α-Fe2O3 heterojunction has excellent performance in the hydrogen evolution half-reaction and OFL degradation, which is about 2.7 times and 3.3 times higher than that of pure PEB-DBT, respectively. Finally, it successfully achieved simultaneous photocatalytic H2 evolution and OFL degradation under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial published in Frontiers in Materials, discussing recent advances in functional materials, specifically polymers and composite materials. The editorial highlights the various applications of these materials in fields such as photocatalysis, energy storage, electronics, and 3D printing. The document also mentions five research papers published in the journal, which cover topics such as photocatalytic nanocomposites, multifunctional composite coatings for asphalt pavement, polymeric materials for 3D printing, and testing methods for fiber-reinforced polymers. The editorial concludes by emphasizing the importance of interdisciplinary research and expressing gratitude to the authors and reviewers. [Extracted from the article]