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Photoinduced Charge Separation of Self‐Organized Semiconducting Superstructures Composed of a Functional Polymer–TiO 2 Hybrid
Author(s) -
zur Borg Lisa,
Domanski Anna L.,
Berger Rüdiger,
Zentel Rudolf
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201300087
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , nanoparticle , transmission electron microscopy , photoinduced charge separation , quenching (fluorescence) , chemical engineering , polymer chemistry , fluorescence , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , photocatalysis , optics , organic chemistry , artificial photosynthesis , catalysis , physics , engineering
The incorporation of TiO 2 nanoparticles into long (several micrometers) fibers of a gel‐forming poly( para ‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivative is described. For that purpose, a PPV‐ block ‐dopamine polymer is synthesized, which is used to coat TiO 2 nanoparticles leading to well‐dispersed nanoparticles and fluorescence quenching of the polymer. Independently, the homopolymer gels in various organic solvents are observed to form long fibers. By mixing the PPV homopolymer with the TiO 2 ‐PPV hybrid, we are able to incorporate the nanoparticles into the fibrous network, as shown in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Photoinduced charge separation is measured by Kelvin probe force microscopy. Upon illuminating the polymer fibers, positive charges are observed, even at distances of around 300 nm. From these results, charge transport along the polymer fibers is inferred.