A Z-Scheme Polyimide/AgBr@Ag Aerogel with Excellent Photocatalytic Performance for the Degradation of Oxytetracycline

Redox-active polyimides for energy conversion and storage: from synthesis to application

As the demand for next-generation electronics is increasing, organic and polymer-based semiconductors are in the spotlight as suitable materials owing to their tailorable structures along with flexible properties. Especially, polyimide (PI) has been widely utilised in electronics because of its outstanding mechanical and thermal properties and chemical resistance originating from its crystallinity, conjugated structure and π-π interactions. PI has recently been receiving more attention in the energy storage and conversion fields due to its unique redox activity and charge transfer complex structure. In this review, we focus on the design of PI structures with improved electrochemical and photocatalytic activities for use as redox-active materials in photo- and electrocatalysts, batteries and supercapacitors. We anticipate that this review will offer insight into the utilisation of redox-active PI-based polymeric materials for the development of future electronics.

Preparation and Properties of the Urea-Formaldehyde Res-In/Reactive Halloysite Nanocomposites Adhesive with Low-Formaldehyde Emission and Good Water Resistance

Low-cost urea formaldehyde resin (UF)/reactive halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) nanocomposite adhesive was prepared successfully via in situ polymerization. The HNTs were modified to improve its compatibility with polymer. The XRD and FTIR results showed that physical and chemical interaction between the HNTs and polymer resin influenced the structure of UF owing to the functional groups on the HNTs. It is found from SEM images that the modified HNTs could be dispersed uniformly in the resin and the nanocomposite particles were spherical. The performance experiment confirmed that thermal stability of nanocomposite increased largely, formaldehyde emission of UF wood adhesive reduced 62%, and water resistance of UF wood adhesive improved by 84%. Meanwhile, the content of HNTs on the nanocomposites could be up to 60 wt %. The mechanism of the nanocomposites based on the reactive HNTs was proposed. The approach of the preparation could supply an idea to prepare other polymer/clay nanocomposites.

Z-scheme polyimide/tungsten trioxide aerogel photocatalyst for enhanced photocatalytic CO2reduction under visible light

Developing highly efficient and stable photocatalysts is an effective method to achieve CO₂photocatalytic reduction. Herein, PI/WO₃aerogel photocatalyst was prepared by chemical amide reaction coupled with an ethanol supercritical drying technique. The novel aerogel photocatalysts exhibit excellent photocatalytic performance for reducing CO₂into CO. In particular, PI/WO₃-10 aerogel photocatalyst shows the highest yield of CO (5.72μmol g^-1h^-1), which is ca 11-fold higher than that of the pristine PI aerogel. The high CO₂reduction activity can be attributed to the Z-scheme structure, which enhances the separation of photo-generated electron-holes, and induces H₂O oxidation on WO₃nanosheets and CO₂reduction on PI aerogel. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism of CO₂when using PI/WO₃aerogel photocatalyst is proposed.

Highly efficient visible-light-induced photoactivity of carbonized polyimide aerogel for antibiotic degradation

Various nitrogen (N)-doped carbon materials have been designed as efficient photocatalysts. For the first time, polyimide (PI) aerogels were calcined to be N-doped carbon photocatalysts at different temperatures. The structures of the carbonized polyimide aerogels (CPIs) vary with the carbonization temperature. The conductivity of the CPI increases with the improvement of calcination temperature, whereas the N content of the CPI decreases and the N state also changes. Thus, the electronic properties of the CPI are changed. The photocatalytic experiments certified that the PI aerogel calcined at 800 °C exhibited the highest photocatalytic performance. The chlortetracycline (CTC) degradation rate over CPI-800 aerogel is 2.3 times as much as that of PI aerogel due to the changed structure and properties of the CPI-800 aerogel.