Enhanced polarization and interfacial convection of thiazole-bridged polymer-sponge architectures for high-efficiency photocatalytic water purification

The widespread adoption of donor-acceptor polymer photocatalysts remains constrained by two fundamental limitations: inefficient charge carrier separation and the practical drawbacks of powdered catalysts. To overcome these challenges, we implement a synergistic local polarization and mass-transfer engineering strategy. Through rational molecular design, we developed a thiazole-bridged d -A polymer (TATZ) with strong π-conjugation and an enhanced built-in electric field. This molecular architecture not only promotes exceptionally efficient electron-hole separation but also directs the oxygen reduction pathway almost exclusively toward superoxide radical (•O 2 ⁻) formation, responsible for 96.7% of the observed photocatalytic activity. The optimized material achieves a tenfold improvement in photo-oxidation kinetics, enabling complete degradation of ciprofloxacin within 25 min. To translate these molecular advantages into practical implementation, we constructed a macroscopic, scalable sponge-based reactor (20 × 20 cm) through controlled deformation of a TATZ-incorporated hydrogel. This integrated system demonstrates excellent contaminant removal efficiency under continuous-flow operation using natural sunlight, confirming its potential for real-world application. Our work establishes a comprehensive design framework for advancing photocatalytic technology across multiple scales—from molecular motifs to functional macroscopic systems.