Full-Spectrum-Visible-Light Photocatalyst Based on the Active Layer of Organic Solar Cell—Towards Water Splitting and Volatile Molecule Degradation—

• NAGAI Keiji

  Tokyo Institute of Technology

• ABE Toshiyuki

  Hirosaki University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 有機太陽電池の活性層を用いた全可視光応答光触媒—汚濁物質分解・水分解へむけて—
• 有機太陽電池の活性層を用いた全可視光応答光触媒 : 汚濁物質分解・水分解へむけて
• ユウキ タイヨウ デンチ ノ カッセイソウ オ モチイタ ゼン カシコウ オウトウ ヒカリ ショクバイ : オダク ブッシツ ブンカイ ・ ミズブンカイ エ ムケテ
• Full-Spectrum-Visible-Light Photocatalyst Based on the Active Layer of Organic Solar Cell^|^mdash;Towards Water Splitting and Volatile Molecule Degradation^|^mdash;

Abstract

The photocatalytic degradation of organic compounds on a semiconducting TiO₂ surface under UV irradiation offers a practical solution to a variety of environmental problems. However, a major disadvantage is the band gap of anatase TiO₂ of 3.3 eV, which requires excitation wavelengths of UV light of less than 380 nm. Although, other photocatalysts exhibit a high reactivity using visible light, few visible-light-activated photocatalysts have been developed that cover the entire visible region. An organic pn-bilayer composed of a perylene derivative (3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxyl-bisbenzimidazole, PTCBI) and phthalocyanine (H₂Pc) is typically used as the photovoltaic material in a dry solar cell. This combination works in wet conditions as a photoanode and photocathode for ITO/PTCBI/H₂Pc/electrolyte and ITO/H₂Pc/PTCBI/electrolyte, respectively. Moreover, oxygen evolution occurred with a small bias (ca. +0.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl) under visible-light illumination, particularly by loading an IrO₂ catalyst on the H₂Pc surface or inserting cobalt ion into the phthalocyanine. By combining with a Nafion membrane, H₂Pc/PTCBI was responsive to the entire visible light region (<780 nm), and the first example of oxygen-tolerable and oxygen-useable photocatalyst consisting of only organic materials. Trimethylamine was removed and completely oxidized in both, gas and water phase. The external quantum efficiency of CO₂ generation per incident photon (EQE_CO2) was estimated to be 0.4. Biphasic nanoparticles composed of p-type and n-type semiconductors were synthesized using a low-cost fabrication by reprecipitation. The composite also showed photocatalytic oxidation of organic volatiles to CO₂ for almost the full spectrum of visible light. Such efficient and visible-light-responsive organophotocatalyst can be used under interior light conditions.

Journal

• KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU

  KOBUNSHI RONBUNSHU 70 (9), 459-475, 2013

  The Society of Polymer Science, Japan

Keywords

• Photooxidation
• Phthalocyanines
• Visible Light Photocatalyst
• Pn Junction

Details

• CRID: 1390282681501269120
• NII Article ID: 10031200104
• NII Book ID: AN00085011
• DOI: 10.1295/koron.70.459
• COI: 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3sXhvFSqtLjM
• ISSN: 18815685
• ISSN: 03862186
• NDL BIB ID: 024911048
• Web Site: http://id.ndl.go.jp/bib/024911048
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I024911048
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
  • KAKEN
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed