Nanocomposites based on titanium dioxide and polythiophene: Structure and properties

• Published in: Reactive & functional polymers Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 69 - 77
• Main Authors: Vu, Quoc-Trung, Pavlik, Martin, Hebestreit, Niels, Rammelt, Ursula, Plieth, Waldfried, Pfleger, Jiri
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-11-2005; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Electrophoretic deposition; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Nanocomposites; Photoelectrochemical spectra; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polythiophene; Technology of polymers; Titanium dioxide; Photoelectrochemical spectra; Polythiophene; Nanocomposites; Titanium dioxide; Electrophoretic deposition; Photoelectrochemical effect; Voltage current curve; Nanoparticle; Experimental study; Composite particles; Conducting polymers; Electrochemical properties; Preparation; Coated particle; Nanocomposite; Thiophene polymer; Oxidative polymerization; Titanium oxide
• ISSN: 1381-5148
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2004.11.011

A composite of polythiophene (PTh) and nanoscopic titanium dioxide (TiO
2), possessing core-shell structure, was prepared via oxidative polymerization of thiophene by iron (III) chloride in the presence of TiO
2 particles. The morphology of the obtained composite particles was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), proving the core-shell structure of the prepared nanocomposite. The chemical structure of the composites was investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The electrophoretic deposition (EPD) technique was used as a method to prepare composite layers on various conducting substrates (platinum and ITO plate). The characteristics of the composite layer after EPD were studied by electrochemical methods. The photoelectrical properties of PTh and TiO
2 in the nanocomposites were studied as well. In the photoelectrochemical spectra (depending on the applied potential), the characteristic anodic peak of TiO
2 at
λ
=
340
nm and cathodic peak of PTh around
λ
=
530
nm were observed. A bandgap energy,
E
g
=
1.95
eV and a direct electron transition of PTh were found. A cathodic peak in the photocurrent spectra was detected unexpectably also around 340
nm, and ascribed to the photoelectrical activity of the TiO
2 core. The redox processes in PTh were investigated via cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance microscopy (EIS).