Double-Network Confined Supramolecular Phosphorescence Light-Harvesting Boosting Photocatalysis

A double-network phosphorescence light-harvesting (PLH) supramolecular system is successfully fabricated based on synergistic confinement strategy. First, the bicationic vinyl bromophenyl pyridine derivative (G) is encapsulated by cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]), inducing weak phosphorescence emission at 510 nm. Subsequently, the G/CB[8] is confined by in situ copolymerization with acrylamide, displaying enhanced phosphorescence emission, then coassembled with hyaluronic acid modified hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HA-HP-beta-CD) to form double-network hydrogel, further improving phosphorescence lifetime from 442 mu s upto 5.17 ms. Benefitting from the confinement of double-network of supramolecular system, the doped Eosin Y (EY) as acceptor can be photosensitized by the phosphorescence of G/CB[8] leading to delayed fluorescence emission of EY with long lifetime as 36.4 mu s. As compared with EY alone, by the synergistic effect of the confined microenvironment and long lifetime photosensitizer, the PLH system is successfully applied in cross-coupling reaction and exhibits enhanced activity, providing a new strategy for the application of phosphorescence energy transfer boosting photocatalysis.

Automated summary

A double-network phosphorescence light-harvesting (PLH) supramolecular system is fabricated using a synergistic confinement strategy. This system shows enhanced activity in cross-coupling reactions by utilizing the synergistic effect of the confined microenvironment and long lifetime photosensitizer.