Self-assembly, photophysical and electrochemical properties and activation of the TiO2 photocatalyst by perylene bisimide

Abstract

New symmetrical N,N′-di(octadecyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic bisimide (DPBI) was synthesized and characterized by various spectral techniques. DPBI was highly fluorescent and exhibited strong absorption and emission in the visible spectral region. The self-assembly of DPBI was performed in a binary solvent CHCl₃–CH₃OH (40 : 60), which enables effective molecular aggregation. The molecule self-assembled as molecular wires and the self-assembled structure was analyzed using SEM, optical and fluorescence microscopic techniques. The DPBI loaded TiO₂ catalyst was prepared in chloroform under sonication using pure TiO₂. Newly prepared DPBI loaded TiO₂ was characterized and its photocatalytic activity has been tested for the degradation of Reactive Orange 4 (RO 4) under UV and solar light. The photocatalytic activity of DPBI loaded TiO₂ is higher than that of pure TiO₂ under UV and solar light for the degradation of RO 4.The DPBI loaded TiO₂ is found to be reusable.