Photocatalytic Activity of Titania/Polydicyclopentadiene PolyHIPE Composites

Abstract

Macroporous polymer composites with photocatalytic activity are prepared by the polymerization of surface modified TiO 2 nanoparticle stabilized high internal phase emulsions. Poly(ethylene glycol‐ b ‐propylene glycol‐ b ‐ethylene glycol) triblock copolymer is used to synthesize surface modified TiO 2 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.