Microwave and oxygen co-assisted rapid polymerization of dopamine

Abstract Dopamine (DA) has been applied in surface chemistry because of its green and simple polymerization process. However, the polymerization kinetics is slow for mass production. Herein, we proposed a novel method to increase the polymerization rate of DA significantly. The DA solution was treated by a two-step method using microwave irradiation and oxygen oxidation. As a result, the DA solution turned dark only in 6 min. The UV–vis spectra and molecular dynamics showed that microwave irradiation promotes the generation of reactive oxygen species, and the oxygen is used as a supplement to compensate for the overflow of oxygen during the microwave heating process. This study provides a new promising choice to polymerize DA quickly and will inspire related applications in various fields.