Design of a ZnO/Poly(vinylidene fluoride) inverse opal film for photon localization-assisted full solar spectrum photocatalysis

Owing to its photonic band gap (PBG) and slow light effects, aniline black (AB)-poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) inverse opal (IO) photonic crystal (PC) was constructed to promote the utility of light and realize photothermal synergetic catalysis. As a highly efficient reaction platform with the capability of restricting heat, a microreactor was introduced to further amplify the photothermal effects of near infrared (NIR) radiation. The photocatalytic efficiency of ZnO/0.5AB-PVDF IO (Z0.5A) increases 1.63-fold compared to that of pure ZnO film under a full solar spectrum, indicating the effectiveness of synergetic promotion by slow light and photothermal effects. Moreover, a 5.85-fold increase is achieved by combining Z0.5A with a microreactor compared to the film in a beaker. The photon localization effect of PVDF IO was further exemplified by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations. In conclusion, photonic crystal-microreactor enhanced photothermal catalysis has immense potential for alleviating the deteriorating water environment.