Koç University unveils light‑driven polymer synthesis
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- Koç University team developed a visible-light-driven synthesis method for porous semiconducting polymers that operates under ambient conditions without metal catalysts.
- Bismuthene acts as a photocatalyst in the process, absorbing visible light to initiate electron transfer that assembles polymer chains.
- Halogen atoms such as bromine and iodine can be directly incorporated into the polymer backbone, enabling precise tuning of electronic and optical properties.
- The polymers achieve molecular weights higher than those accessible by conventional methods and allow controlled structural design.
- The light-driven oxidation of styrene to benzaldehyde using the new polymers reaches conversion rates and selectivity exceeding 99%, driven by singlet oxygen generation.
- Retro diazotization chemistry—a reinterpretation of two‑century‑old diazonium chemistry—underpins the method, offering a sustainable alternative to costly, energy‑intensive polymer synthesis.
Why it matters: Manufacturers of organic electronic and catalytic materials gain a cheaper, greener production route, while traditional metal‑catalyzed processes lose market share; the high selectivity and halogen tunability also open new avenues for solar‑energy harvesting and chemical synthesis; they also enable ambient‑temperature manufacturing, cutting energy costs and expanding scalability for industrial adoption.
