Biomimetic photocatalytic reactor with a hydrogel-embedded microfluidic network

We present a light driven biomimetic reactor where photocatalytic TiO ₂ nanoparticles are embedded into water-based gels. Uniform supply of the reactants and extraction of the products is accomplished via a microfluidic channel network in a permeable hydrogel, broadly similar to the vein structure of live leaves. Quantitative analysis shows that the microvascular reactor has high quantum efficiency per mass of the catalyst.