Interfacial engineering affects the photocatalytic activity of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-modified TiO2

Abstract

In this study, oxidation polymerization was used to synthesize poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)-modified TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and then the effect of the interface between the TiO2 NPs and the P3HT coating on the system's photocatalytic ability under visible light was investigated. The photocatalytic properties of the TiO2 NPs were enhanced from the UV to the visible after incorporation of P3HT. Moreover, charge transfer between the TiO2 NPs and the P3HT coating was promoted when a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) of 2-thiophenecarboxylic acid was present at their interface; this SAM decreased the barrier for charge transfer between the TiO2 NPs and the P3HT coating, leading to improved photocatalytic activity under visible light.