Grafting Polymers onto Carbon Nitride via Visible-Light-Induced Photofunctionalization

Macromolecules. 2019 Jul 9;52(13):4989-4996. doi: 10.1021/acs.macromol.9b00894. Epub 2019 Jun 20.

Abstract

Metal-free graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) has attracted significant attention recently due to its multiple applications, such as photocatalysis, energy storage and conversion, and biomaterials, albeit formation of g-CN films is challenging. Herein, a "grafting to" route to graft polymer brushes onto g-CN via visible-light irradiation is described. Afterward, g-CN/polymer films can be obtained through spin coating on glass substrates. As such, the present material provides an improved process toward further application of g-CN in thin films. Moreover, an improved dispersibility in organic solvent was realized after grafting and functional groups (such as epoxides) were introduced to g-CN. Subsequently, the epoxy groups were utilized for further functionalization to adjust the surface polarity.