Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity and Charge Carrier Dynamics of Hetero-Structured Organic–Inorganic Nano-Photocatalysts

Abstract

P3HT-coupled CdS heterostructured nanophotocatalysts have been synthesized by an inexpensive and scalable chemical bath deposition approach followed by drop casting. The presence of amorphous regions corresponding to P3HT in addition to the lattice fringes [(002) and (101)] corresponding to hexagonal CdS in the HRTEM image confirm the coupling of P3HT onto CdS. The shift of π* (C═C) and σ* (C-C) peaks toward lower energy losses and prominent presence of σ* (C-H) in the case of P3HT-CdS observed in electron energy loss spectrum implies the formation of heterostructured P3HT-CdS. It was further corroborated by the shifting of S 2p peaks toward higher binding energy (163.8 and 164.8 eV) in the XPS spectrum of P3HT-CdS. The current density recorded under illumination for the 0.2 wt % P3HT-CdS photoelectrode is 3 times higher than that of unmodified CdS and other loading concentration of P3HT coupled CdS photoelectrodes. The solar hydrogen generation studies show drastic enhancement in the hydrogen generation rate i.e. 4108 μmol h(-1)g(-1) in the case of 0.2 wt % P3HT-CdS. The improvement in the photocatalytic activity of 0.2 wt % P3HT-CdS photocatalyst is ascribed to improved charge separation lead by the unison of shorter lifetime (τ1=0.25 ns) of excitons, higher degree of band bending, and increased donor density as revealed by transient photoluminescence studies and Mott-Schottky analysis.

Photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin using CuFe2O4@methyl cellulose based magnetic nanobiocomposite

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Tuning the spectral, thermal and fluorescent properties of conjugated polymers via random copolymerization of hole transporting monomers

“…Therefore, hetero-structured devices are designed to facilitate charge injection and transport, via the insertion of additional charge transport layers in these polymers. 6,7 Such hetero-structured devices show degraded device performance due to phase separation by recrystallization. Controlling phase separation is perhaps the most attractive approach to simultaneously facilitate charge transfer and charge transport.…”

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

“…However, most of the existing organic-inorganic heterojunctions are physical bonding, thereby resulting in the low transmission efficiency of carriers and poor stability. These limitations can be offset by the chemical bonding of organic-inorganic heterojunction because of its perfect contact [26]. Nevertheless, it is relatively difficult to prepare organic-inorganic composites by chemical bonding.…”