One-Step Interfacial Integration of Graphene Oxide and Organic Chromophores into Multicomponent Nanohybrids with Photoelectric Properties

Abstract

A one-step protocol for interfacial self-assembly of graphene oxide (GO), glutamine-substituted perylene diimide (PDI-glu), 10,12-pentacosadiynoic acid (PCDA), and zinc acetate into three-and four-component hybrid nanofilms through hydrogen and coordination bonding was developed. The hybrids deposited onto solid supports were studied after polymerization of PCDA by UV−vis absorption, fluorescence, and Raman spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results of spectroscopic studies suggest that the hybrids assembled through H-bonds can maintain the light-induced Forster energy transfer from the PDI-glu chromophore to the conjugated polymer and then to GO leading to fluorescence quenching. In the hybrids assembled through coordination bonding with zinc clusters, the energy transfer proceeds from PDI-glu to the PDA polymer, whereas the transfer from PDA to GO is quenched completely. Another important characteristic of these ultrathin hybrids is their stability with respect to photobleaching of chromophores due to the acceptor properties of GO. The as-assembled hybrid nanofilms were integrated with conventional photovoltaic planar architectures to study their photoelectric properties. The zinc-containing hybrids integrated with a hole transport layer exhibited photovoltaic properties. The cell with the integrated four-component hybrid comprising both PDI-glu and PDA showed a photocurrent/dark current ratio almost an order higher than that of the three-component hybrid assembled with PDA only. The supramolecular method based on the interfacial selfassembly can be extended to a wide variety of organic chromophores and polymerizable surfactants for integrating them into multicomponent functional GO-based nanohybrids with targeted properties for organic electronics.

Cost-Effective and Highly Efficient Manganese-Doped MoS2 Nanosheets as Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalysts for Wastewater Treatment

“…In view of these problems, it is of utmost importance to design a nontoxic, cost-effective, and eco-friendly catalyst of degrading toxic dyes from water bodies under irradiation of visible light. 4,5 In previous photocatalysis experiments, the UV spectrum was the main emphasis, and metal oxides like ZnO and TiO 2 were employed on a large scale as prominent catalysts. However, because UV light only makes up around 4−5% of the solar spectrum, this led to less efficiency.…”

“…In addition, organic dyes such as methylene blue, malachite green, and Rhodamine B, etc., are important components of the textile industry; however, they can be toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable, representing a significant hazard to humankind and the environment. In view of these problems, it is of utmost importance to design a nontoxic, cost-effective, and eco-friendly catalyst of degrading toxic dyes from water bodies under irradiation of visible light. , …”