A bifunctional imidazolium-functionalized ionic porous organic polymer in water remediation

Here we report the synthesis of a thermally and chemically robust novel ionic porous organic polymer (iPOP-ANT) with exchangeable Cl − ions by a one-step condensation reaction. The polymer works as a dual functionalized material towards the fast and efficient capture of toxic oxo-anions (Cr 2 O 7 2− , MnO 4 − ) and anionic dyes (methyl orange, amaranth, and congo red) as well as towards the photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes (rhodamine B, rhodamine 6G, and methylene blue) under solar irradiation. The material shows high uptake capacity, fast kinetics, and selectivity toward capturing anionic pollutants. The low optical band gap of the material (2.58 eV) makes it an ideal photocatalyst for the degradation of cationic dyes under solar irradiation. Moreover, the material shows excellent reusability in both adsorption and degradation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of an iPOP showing both anion adsorption and photocatalytic dye degradation. This work introduces a cationic porous organic polymer for fast and efficient capture of anionic pollutants and photocatalytic degradation of cationic dyes under solar irradiation.