Self-assembly and boosted photodegradation properties of perylene diimide via different solvents

Abstract

Herein, a series of supramolecular self-assembled perylene diimide (PDI) nanomaterials by different solvents have been successfully prepared. Under visible-light irradiation, the self-assembled PDI supramolecular material pretreated by acetone (PDI (acetone)) exhibited superior photocatalytic degradation activity on bisphenol A (BPA) and Rhodamine B (RhB), which were 7.1 times and 4.2 times that of the monomeric PDI, respectively. The improved photo-degradation activity was mainly attributed to the rapid separation and transfer of the photogenerated carriers and π–π interaction between self-assembled PDI supramolecules. The analysis of free radical trapping experiments and ESR characterization together indicated that h⁺ and ˙O₂⁻ are the main active species to rapidly degrade pollutants. Meanwhile, this work also studied the influence of other solvents (e.g., deionized water, methanol, and ethanol) on the self-assembly process of monomeric PDI. In summary, this study provides a new strategy to develop highly efficient self-assembled PDI photocatalysts by different solvents.