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Polymeric Porphyrins As Solar Photocatalysts, Nicholas Upton Day

Dissertations and Theses

Research concentrated on the absorption, transformation, and storage of light energy is useful for the energy challenges faced by humanity. In particular, photocatalysis using solar energy to generate useful fuels has become a primary research goal in the drive to replace fossil fuels for the future. In this dissertation it is shown that poly-tetra(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin (pTAPP) can be oxidatively polymerized using a variety of methods, including electropolymerization, chemical oxidation, and interfacial polymerization and that pTAPP has photocatalytic ability to reduce O₂ to H₂O₂ for a storable fuel.

Organic conductive polymers such as pTAPP are attractive catalysts because …