Conjugated Polymer Hydrogel Photocatalysts with Expandable Photoactive Sites in Water

Abstract

Water compatibility of heterogeneous photocatalytic materials is recently realized by utilizing hydrogels as a support; however, the embedment of photocatalysts in the hydrogels may hinder the photocatalytic activity and the regeneration of materials. Therefore, combining hydrophilicity and high accessibility to the active sites of heterogeneous photocatalysts is highly challenging. Herein, we report the design of a conjugated polymer hydrogel photocatalyst via complexation between a photoactive conjugated polymer with cationic side chains and a poly­(acrylic acid) as polyanion. In water, the conjugated polymer hydrogel photocatalyst exhibited an enormous volumetric increase by swelling, which creates more accessible photoactive sites through the simultaneous expansion of the conjugated polymer chain. A simple solvent switch allows the reversible swelling of the hydrogel photocatalyst for recycling. The significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity of the hydrogel photocatalyst was demonstrated by the photodegradation of organic dyes and the formation of the enzyme cofactor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide via photo-oxidation in water. Furthermore, the translucent and voluminous hydrogel photocatalyst was suitable to pack a large-scale flow column photoreactor for the rapid photocatalytic reactions.

Visible-light photooxidation in water by 1O2-generating supramolecular hydrogels

“…Catalytic supramolecular hydrogels provide a promising solution to this challenge. [15][16][17][18][19] Hydrogel networks can address the solubility problem because hydrophobic aromatic compounds oen associate into the nanober network in water and become reactively accessible. 20 For example, the Meijer 21 and Escuder 22 groups have shown that a self-assembled, 1D ber network enhances catalytic activity compared to its non-assembled counterpart.…”

Smartdust 3D‐Printed Graphene‐Based Al/Ga Robots for Photocatalytic Degradation of Explosives

“…[ 21 ] Due to the volume expansion of the conjugated polymers (hydrogel), more active photocatalytic sites are in contact with the pollutants. [ 22 ] Moreover, the hydrogel photocatalysts offer the advantage of easy regeneration and reusability with good stability. [ 22a ] Therefore, the synergistic effect of the simultaneous adsorption and photocatalytic activity of the chitosan and C 3 N 4 , respectively, led to the highest degradation efficiency.…”

Hydrophilic Conjugated Materials for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

“…The cross-linked PÀ FLÀ BT3 could serve as an efficient, recyclable and cost-effective photocatalyst to degrade organic dyes and reduce heavy-metal ions such as Cr VI to Cr III in water. Byun et al [28] synthesized a hydrogel PÀ BTÀ GX by ionic complexation with cross-linked PÀ BTÀ Vim as polycation and poly (arylic acid) as polyanion. PÀ BTÀ GX exhibited excellent water compatibility and could swell well in water, thereby largely expanding the active sites for photocatalytic reactions.…”

“…The cross‐linked P−FL−BT3 could serve as an efficient, recyclable and cost‐effective photocatalyst to degrade organic dyes and reduce heavy‐metal ions such as Cr VI to Cr III in water. Byun et al . synthesized a hydrogel P−BT−GX by ionic complexation with cross‐linked P−BT−Vim as polycation and poly (arylic acid) as polyanion.…”