Revealing the unexplored effect of residual iron oxide on the photoreforming activities of polypyrrole nanostructures on plastic waste and photocatalytic pollutant degradation

Abstract

Nanostructured conducting conjugated polymer, polypyrrole was synthesized via a template free approach. Residual α-Fe2O3 was found in the polypyrrole matrix when FeCl3 was used as the oxidant for polymerization of pyrrole. Importantly, the α-Fe2O3 exists in polypyrrole as nanoparticles forming a heterojunction nanocomposite that significantly improves the photocatalytic activity of the polymer under visible light. Photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposite was multifold higher than metal free polypyrrole and α-Fe2O3. The nanocomposite showed high photocatalytic activity in photoreforming of plastic to hydrogen and other value-added organic products. Furthermore, the photoreforming does not produce any greenhouse gases like CO2. Using the method reported herein, the amount of residual α-Fe2O3 in conducting polymer matrix can be tuned and optimized to yield promising photocatalysts for green and sustainable development.