Efficient TADF-based aerobic photocatalysts for sulfide oxidation in water by increasing hydrophobic crosslinking

Abstract

Aerobic photooxidation in the aqueous phase is a promising field, but it faces the challenge of water-induced photocatalyst deactivation. In this work, we prepared three TADF-based photocatalysts with enhanced hydrophobicity to protect the excited state against water. Efficient aerobic photooxidation of sulfides into sulfoxides was realized in water owing to their extended triplet state lifetimes. The recyclability and oxidation mechanism of the photocatalyst were also discussed.