Chemically Bonded N-PDI-P/WO3 Organic-Inorganic Heterojunction with Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance

Abstract

The chemical bonding of bandgap adjustable organic semiconductors with inorganic semiconducting materials is effective in constructing a high-performance heterogeneous photoanode. In this study, a new asymmetric perylene diimide derivative molecule (N-PDI-P) was synthesized by connecting tert-butoxycarbonyl on an N-site at one end of a PDI molecule through methylene and connecting naphthalene directly onto the other end. This molecule was bonded onto the WO3 film surface, thereby forming the photoanode of organic-inorganic heterojunction. Under light illumination, the photocurrent density of chemically bonded N-PDI-P/WO3 heterojunction was twofold higher than that of physically adhered heterojunction for photoelectrochemical water oxidation at 0.6 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Energy band structure and charge transfer dynamic analyses revealed that photogenerated electron carriers on the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) of an N-PDI-P molecule can be transferred to the conduction band of WO3. The charge transfer and separation rates were accelerated considerably after the chemical bond formed at the N-PDI-P/WO3 interface. The proposed method provides a new way for the design and construction of organic-inorganic composite heterojunction.

Interface Engineering of Conjugated Polymer‐Based Composites for Photocatalysis

“…Although constructing CP‐based heterojunctions can avoid the shortcomings of pure materials as well as achieve greater activity, [27] the components cannot be connected well as designed without interface engineering. For the purpose to strengthen the interfacial contact, the strategies based on characteristics of different interactions will be more targeted and effective.…”

Determination of the Mono and Dibromo Derivatives Ratio Resulting from Semiconductor Bromination Using Ultraviolet-visible Absorption Spectroscopy and Gaussian Peak Fitting

“…Perylene diimide (PDI) is a crucial organic semiconductor material and has wide applications, such as, solar cells, 15 field-effect transistors, 16 photocatalyst, 17 and electroluminescence. 18 The UV-Vis absorption spectra of PDI molecules and their brominated products show three similar absorption peaks.…”