New Organic Semiconducting Scaffolds by Supramolecular Preorganization: Dye Intercalation and Dye Oxidation and Reduction

The assembly of melamine and 2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone results in new “sheet-like” supramolecular crystals that by controlled thermal condensation can be converted to photoactive materials at relativity low temperatures. The condensation temperature alters the materials properties from polymer-like to carbon materials alongside their morphology and elemental ratio. This new method opens the possibility for the synthesis of new organic, photoactive carbon–nitrogen based frameworks at low calcination temperatures with great simplicity. Photodegradation experiments of methylene blue reveal that the obtained materials can perform dye reduction photochemically with visible photons, while at the same time the photogenerated holes oxidize the dye toward small molecular fragments.