Bioinspired hydrogels: polymeric designs towards artificial photosynthesis

Aquatic environments host various living organisms with active molecular systems, such as the enzymes in the thylakoid membrane that realise photosynthesis. Various challenges in achieving artificial photosynthesis, such as water splitting, have been studied using both inorganic and organic molecules. However, several problems persist, including diffusion-limited reactions and multiple redox reactions in the liquid phase. In this Feature Article, we discuss the significant challenges in using polymer networks as active mediators for photoinduced water splitting. In the creation of artificial chloroplasts, polymer networks offer various advantages, such as stable dispersions of multiple types of functional molecules and close molecular arrangements. To incorporate these features, stepwise synthesis and integration can be utilized during the hierarchical construction of polymer networks. The constituent molecules such as ruthenium complex and platinum nanoparticles in the photoinduced electron transfer circuits are closely arranged to smoothly operate forward reactions by polymer networks. The quantum efficiency of photoinduced H₂ generation in gel systems is considerably higher than that of conventional solution systems. Additionally, a thermoresponsive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) network of microgels can be used to integrate catalytic nanoparticles into the inside by using the electrostatic interaction and the mesh size changes. By focusing on the redox changes of copolymerised molecules that induce swelling/shrinking at a constant temperature, active electron transfer can be precisely achieved using the coil-globule transition of the PNIPAAm having viologen. This article highlights the potential of polymer networks to develop strategies for active electron transfer and energy conversion systems similar to those found in living organisms.