Classical Polymers as Highly Tunable and Designable Heterogeneous Photocatalysts

Photocatalysis has emerged as a powerful synthetic tool to facilitate redox reactions with the target of creating stable and tunable photocatalytic materials. A class of recyclable photocatalytic materials has emerged through the combination of classical polymers with photocatalytic small molecules. Classical polymers are inexpensive and easy to produce. They can be used to create cheap, easily recyclable, and reusable materials. Moreover, these materials can be imparted with a broad range of functionality and physical features, allowing the materials properties to be easily tuned according to the application requirements. The inclusion of a photocatalytic moiety enables the material to be used for a vast number of visible-light-mediated photoredox reactions. A broad range of different classical polymer architectures have been reported over the last few decades. In this Review, we will summarize the recent development of this emerging class of metal-free and heterogeneous photocatalytic platform. We will particularly discuss the inclusion of photoactive components into different polymer structures by paying attention to the synthesis route, material properties, and photoactivity of the polymeric materials produced.

Automated summary

The combination of classical polymers with photocatalytic small molecules has yielded a class of recyclable photocatalytic materials that are inexpensive, easy to produce, and versatile in functionality and physical features. These materials can be easily tuned for specific application requirements, enabling a broad range of visible-light-mediated photoredox reactions.