Photocatalytic Activity of Titania/Polydicyclopentadiene PolyHIPE Composites

Abstract

Macroporous polymer composites with photocatalytic activity are prepared by the polymerization of surface modified TiO2 nanoparticle stabilized high internal phase emulsions. Poly(ethylene glycol-b-propylene glycol-b-ethylene glycol) triblock copolymer is used to synthesize surface modified TiO2 anatase via a sol-gel method. Macroporous composites are obtained by the ring opening metathesis polymerization of dicyclopentadiene within the particle-stabilized high internal phase emulsion templates. Photocatalytic activity of the resulting macroporous polymer composites is described by the kinetic data of the heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation reaction of 4-nitrophenol.