Polycondensation-Involved Melanin-like Polymers for Enhanced Solar Energy Utilization

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.3c00852
• Publication Date: 2023-06-08T12:20:06Z
• Authors: Wanjie Bai; Peng Yang; Hengjie Zhang; Tianyou Wang; Yiyan Yang; Xueqian Zhang; Gaigai Duan; Yuanting Xu; Yiwen Li

Polydopamine (PDA) and poly(5,6-dihydroxyindole) (PDHI), both typical representatives of melanin-like polymers, are emerging as promising kinds photothermal functional materials with a similar polymeric structure. However, the chaos microstructure formed by free radical polymerization monomers still hinders efficient regulation their performances. Herein, we introduced condensation between aldehydes 5,6-dihydroxyindole (DHI) monomer during process to construct more D–A pairs, which can regulate energy structures reduce optical band gaps within macromolecules. In this way, series PDHI nanoparticles (NPs) enhanced light absorption visible properties were successfully prepared used for solar power generation water desalination 91.8% evaporation efficiency. It was believed that work could provide new opportunities structure–function tailoring bioinspired further expand applications high-efficiency utilization.