Efficient CO2 photoreduction using a water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolyte grafted imidazolium-functionalized side chain

Herein, we reported the development of a water-soluble conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) for efficient CO2 photoreduction under visible light (λ > 420 nm). Bearing a fluorene-benzothiadiazole backbone and imidazolium-functionalized side chains, PFBT-Im exhibits remarkable photocatalytic activity with nearly 100% selectivity and a CO yield of 453.16 μmol g−1 within 4 h, which is 8.6 and 2.5 times larger than those of conjugated polymers grafted with octyl and trimethylammonium side chains, respectively.