Heterophase Photocatalysts from Water-Soluble Conjugated Polyelectrolytes: An Example of Self-Initiation under Visible Light

Abstract

We herein report a new design route to stable, heterophase photocatalysts, which function as highly dispersible conjugated polymer nanoparticles and porous monoliths under visible light in aqueous medium. They were constructed by attachment of the ionic-liquid species 1-alkyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide onto the side chains of a photoactive polymer. The structure configuration allows not only photocatalysis in aqueous environment but also a unique self-initiation radical cross-linking process to transform the water-soluble photoactive polymer into a heterophase system, either as nanoparticles or a porous monolith. High photocatalytic activity and reusability of the heterophase system were demonstrated in the degradation of organic dyes and reduction of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) in water under visible-light irradiation.

Keywords: chromium reduction; organic photocatalysts; photochemistry; self-initiation; visible light.