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Synthesis of P3HT base semiconducting hybrid films and their photocatalytic properties

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Abstract

Regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (rr-P3HT) was employed as the supporting polymeric matrix to generate hybrid composite films by mixing with natural zeolites, ZnO, and TiO2. Several P3HT-based hybrid composite films were deposited by a convenient method, characterized, and applied to the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine 6G (R6G). The photocatalytic activity of the hybrid composite films was analyzed by degradation of R6G solutions (blank) under UV radiation (365 nm) and sunlight. It was observed that the photocatalytic activity of the composite films was higher as compared to the neat films of P3HT. This behavior was attributed to the extended photoresponse of the coupled organic–inorganic semiconductor system, facilitating separation of photogenerated carriers due to the strong interfacial interaction. The highest proportion of decolorization ratio of R6G obtained was close to 100%, and it was observed for the composite films P3HT/TiO2/ZnO and P3HT/chabazite/TiO2/ZnO under UV irradiation. Under sunlight, 99% and 97% decolorization ratios were obtained for P3HT/TiO2 and P3HT/TiO2/ZnO composite films, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

To CONACYT for scholarship support and the UT-Dallas, National Laboratory of Research and Technological Development of Advanced Films (LIDTRA) at Cinvestav-Querétaro for the support to accomplish this work. The Mexican Center for Innovation in Geothermal Energy (CeMIEGeo) Petography Unit for the facilities granted (SEM). Financial support from Welch Foundation (AT-1740), NSF-MRI Grant (CHE-1126177) and NSF (DMR-0956116) is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unidad Querétaro, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Libramiento Norponiente #2000, 76230, Querétaro, Qro., México

    J. Ramírez-Aparicio, J. Enrique Samaniego-Benítez & R. Ramírez-Bon

  2. Cátedras CONACYT-Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias, Paseo de la Reforma 113, Palmira, 62490, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

    J. Ramírez-Aparicio

  3. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 W. Campbell Road, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA

    Taniya M. S. K. Pathiranage, Hien Q. Nguyen & Mihaela C. Stefan

  4. Cátedras CONACYT-Instituto Politécnico Nacional-CICATA Unidad Legaria, Calz Legaria 694, 11500, Ciudad de México, México

    J. Enrique Samaniego-Benítez

  5. Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias, Paseo de la Reforma 113, Palmira, 62490, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México

    V. M. Salinas-Bravo

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  1. J. Ramírez-Aparicio
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Ramírez-Aparicio, J., Pathiranage, T.M.S.K., Nguyen, H.Q. et al. Synthesis of P3HT base semiconducting hybrid films and their photocatalytic properties. J Coat Technol Res 16, 1065–1075 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11998-018-00181-3

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