Interfacial fabrication of functional supramolecular polymeric networks for photocatalysis

Supramolecular polymeric networks based on host-enhanced π-π interaction have been obtained at a liquid-solid interface through the layer-by-layer (LbL) assembly of porphyrin bearing four naphthalene groups and cucurbit[8]uril. The fabricating progress of supramolecular networks at interface can be efficiently controlled, simply by adjusting the layer-pair number of LbL films. Moreover, upon irradiation of visible light, these supramolecular networks exhibit good catalytic features for the oxidation of various phenols. It is anticipated that this strategy of fabricating supramolecular polymeric networks at the interface has potential applications in the fields of sewage disposal and biocatalysis, just to name a few.