Tuning photophysical properties of semiconducting polymer nanoparticles for improved photocatalytic activity
This study investigates the relation between the optical and structural properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanoparticles with their efficiency as photocatalysts for the degradation of water pollutants. Two nanoparticle preparation methods were investigated. Our results indicate that nanoparticles prepared by the miniemulsion method are more efficient in inducing photodegradation. The higher crystallinity, observed by X-ray scattering experiments and the presence of surfactant in these nanoparticles affect the photophysical properties. The fluorescence lifetime of miniemulsion nanoparticles is shorter than that of nanoparticles prepared by the flash method, favoring charge transfer towards the surface of the nanoparticle. These charges, in the presence of water, produce highly reactive oxygen species, responsible for the pollutant photodegradation.
Authors
- Tiberio A. Ezquerra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9966-519X)
- Jose Sena-Fernández (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5666-4776)
- Timothy J. Murdoch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8727-0908)
- Juan F. Vega (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0377-4410)
- Aurora Nogales (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2494-3551)
- Ignacio Martín-Fabiani (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1977-7659)
- Esther Rebollar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1144-7102)
- Aitana Hurtado-Mendoza
Institutions
- Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
- Loughborough University (GB)
- Instituto de Química Física Blas Cabrera (ES)
- Instituto de Estructura de la Materia (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nanoscale
- Published
- 2025-01-01
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1039/d5nr01699a
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Conducting polymers and applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.61
Funders
- Comunidad de Madrid
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas
- European Regional Development Fund
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación