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.