Physical and Chemical Properties of Composites Based on Polythiophene and Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles for Photocatalysis

Abstract

In this study, we have synthesized the composites of polythiophene and titanium dioxide nanoparticles with different TiO2 percentage (3, 5, 7, and 10%) by chemical oxidative polymerization method. The composite materials were characterized by various techniques including Fourier transform infrared spectro-scopy, X-ray diffraction, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and electrical conductivity. The results of the photocatalytic evaluation carried out on the synthesized composites show a continuous decrease in the relative concentration of methyl orange with the increase in the concentration of TiO2 in the composite. Whereas, the results of the photocatalytic evaluation carried out on direct mixtures of polythiophene and TiO2 show a considerable increase in the decolorization of methyl orange. The results of the adsorption study of methyl orange on the catalyst materials show an improvement in the maximum capacity adsorption of methyl orange on polythiophene and 40% TiO2 mixture relative to that of pure TiO2 (in 2.3 times) and to that of pure polythiophene (in 1.3 times).