Carbon nitride nanosheets as visible light photocatalytic initiators and crosslinkers for hydrogels with thermoresponsive turbidity

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has emerged as an active visible-light-driven photo(electro) catalyst. However, the rediscovery of g-C3N4 has also spurred enormous interest in other, very versatile applications beyond catalysis. Herein, graphitic carbon nitride nano-sheets could be used as photocatalytic initiators and cross-linking sites for the temperature responsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel without any sacrificial agents or co-initiators. A prototype of a temperature controlled smart window based on the hydrogel composite was made by coating the hydrogel composite onto glass. It is believed that the combination of g-C3N4 chemistry and conventional hydrogel or polymer chemistry can lead to further promising applications.