Synthesis and photocatalytic activity of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/TiO{sub 2} composites

Journal Article · Mon Oct 15 04:00:00 EDT 2007 · Journal of Solid State Chemistry

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2007.07.017· OSTI ID:21049535

Muktha, B; Mahanta, Debajyoti; Patil, Satish ^[1]; Madras, Giridhar ^[2]

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1. Solid State and Structural Chemistry Unit, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012 (India)
2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012 (India)

An heterogeneous conducting polymer composite, poly(3-hexylthiophene)/TiO{sub 2} (P3HT/TiO{sub 2}), was synthesized. The photocatalytic activity of P3HT alone and the composite was investigated for the first time by degrading a common dye under UV exposure. It was shown that the photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was higher compared to either the polymer or TiO{sub 2} alone. A simple mechanism was proposed to explain this observed synergetic effect. - Graphical abstract: Photocatalytic mechanism of the polymer composite with titania. A new heterogeneous conducting polymer composite with titania (P3HT/TiO{sub 2}) was synthesized and the photocatalytic activity this composite was investigated by degrading a common dye under UV exposure. It was shown that the nanocomposite exhibited synergetic photocatalytic catalytic activity compared to either the polymer or TiO{sub 2} alone. The scheme of the possible mechanism of enhancement of photocatalytic degradation rate in a conducting polymer nanocomposite is shown in the figure.

• OSTI ID: 21049535
• Journal Information: Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Journal Issue: 10 Vol. 180; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DYES
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
NANOSTRUCTURES
ORGANIC SULFUR COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCATALYSIS
POLYMERS
SYNTHESIS
TITANIUM OXIDES