title: Characterization and photocatalytic activity of poly(3-hexylthiophene)-modified TiO2 for degradation of methyl orange under visible light.
abstract: Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was synthesized via chemical oxidative polymerization with anhydrous FeCl(3) as oxidant, 3-hexylthiophene as monomer, chloroform as solvent. TiO(2) nanoparticles modified by a small amount of P3HT (TiO(2)/P3HT) were prepared by blending TiO(2) nanoparticles and P3HT in chloroform solution. The resulting photocatalysts were characterized by the methods of TEM, XRD, FT-IR, XPS and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscope. The photocatalytic activity of TiO(2)/P3HT was investigated by degrading methyl orange under visible light. The degradation rate of methyl orange was 88.5 and 13.5% when it was degradated by TiO(2)/P3HT and neat TiO(2)(P-25) for 10h, respectively. In addition, TiO(2)/P3HT nanocomposites showed excellent photocatalytic stability after 10 cycles under visible light irradiation. A possible mechanism for the photocatalytic oxidative degradation was also discussed.
authors.affiliation: College of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050018, PR China. dswang06@126.com
authors.forename: Desong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qingzhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Xueyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yandong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002384:Catalysis; D002725:Chloroform; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D008027:Light; D053758:Nanoparticles; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D013876:Thiophenes; C507295:poly(3-hexylthiophene); C009495:titanium dioxide; C100258:methyl orange; D002725:Chloroform; D014025:Titanium