Hypercrosslinked Polymers as a Photocatalytic Platform for Visible-Light-Driven CO2 Photoreduction Using H2O

The design of robust, high-performance photocatalysts is key for the success of solar fuel production by CO2 conversion. In this study, hypercrosslinked polymer (HCP) photocatalysts have been developed for the selective reduction of CO2 to CO, combining excellent CO2 sorption capacities, good general stabilities, and low production costs. HCPs are active photocatalysts in the visible light range, significantly outperforming the benchmark material, TiO2 P25, using only sacrificial H2O. It is hypothesized that superior H2O adsorption capacities facilitate access to photoactive sites, improving photocatalytic conversion rates when compared to sacrificial H-2. These polymers are an intriguing set of organic photocatalysts, displaying no long-range order or extended pi-conjugation. The as-synthesized networks are the sole photocatalytic component, requiring no added cocatalyst doping or photosensitizer, representing a highly versatile and exciting platform for solar-energy conversion.

Automated summary

Hypercrosslinked polymer (HCP) photocatalysts have been developed for the selective reduction of CO2 to CO, displaying excellent CO2 sorption capacities and good stability in visible light range. These active photocatalysts outperform the benchmark material, TiO2 P25, using only sacrificial H2O, potentially due to superior H2O adsorption capacities facilitating access to photoactive sites.