Phys.org November 6, 2024
Aquatic environments host various living organisms with active molecular systems that realize photosynthesis. Researchers in Japan addressed the significant challenges in using polymer networks as active mediators for photoinduced water splitting. They incorporated various features offered by artificial chloroplasts polymer networks for stepwise synthesis and integration during the hierarchical construction. The constituent molecules were closely arranged to smoothly operate forward reactions by polymer networks. The quantum efficiency of photoinduced H2 generation in gel systems was higher than that of conventional solution systems. Additionally, a thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) network of microgels could be used to integrate catalytic nanoparticles into the inside by using the electrostatic interaction and the mesh size changes. According to the researchers their work highlights the potential of polymer networks to develop strategies for active electron transfer and energy conversion systems similar to those found in living organisms… read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLEÂ
Design of photoinduced electron transfers in polymer networks inspired by chloroplasts… Credit: Chemical Communications, 01 Nov 2024