Author(s)

Kasem K. Kasem^1*, Houria Sadou², Henry Worley¹, Jordan Wenger¹

¹School of Sciences, Indiana University Kokomo, Kokomo, IN, USA.
²Laboratoire de Chimie des Matériaux Inorganiques et Applications, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran-Mohamed Boudiaf, Oran, Algeria.

Particles of TiO₂ modified with poly 3-(2-thienyl) aniline (PThA) and occluded in poly 2,2 bithiophene (PBTh), were subjected to optical, electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) and photoelectrochemical (PEC) investigation in aqueous, acetate, citrate, and phosphate electrolytes. EIS studies revealed that the assembly film of TiO₂/PThA/PBTh possess porous-type structure. They also confirmed the approximate value of Ef obtained from electrochemical studies. Both EIS and optical studies indicated that ac conductivity is much greater than dc conductivity. Guided by the properties of PBTh, no large changes in the energy band structure occurred due to occlusion of TiO₂ in PBTh films. Occlusion of TiO₂/PThA into the network structure of PBTh inhibits the energy dissipation process and impeded charge polarization process of the material. Photoelectrochemical outcome suggested possible band alignments between the organic film and TiO₂ and formation of hybrid sub-bands. Inclusion of TiO₂ in the thiophene-based polymers enhanced the charge separation and consequently charge transfer processes and widen the absorption in visible light range.

TiO₂, Organic Polymers, Photoactive Interfaces, Optical, Organic Semiconductors and Impedance Spectroscopy

Kasem, K. , Sadou, H. , Worley, H. and Wenger, J. (2018) Optical, Photoelectrochemical, and Electrochemical Impedance Studies on Photoactive Organic/Inorganic/Interface Assemblies of Poly 2,2 Bithiophene/Poly 3-(2-Thienyl) Aniline (PThA)/TiO₂. Journal of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering, 6, 50-67. doi: 10.4236/msce.2018.68005.