Photocurrent Generation of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-on-TiO₂ Nanoparticle

Abstract

The photocurrent generation of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) grown on TiO₂ nanoparticles were examined. PEDOT was deposited on the surface of mesoporous TiO₂ nanoparticle by chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) under oxidative condition, to afford blue colored conductive particles, having average diameter of 80 nm when the feed ratio between TiO₂ and EDOT was 1:1.5 by weight. A photoelectrode coated with the PEDOT-on-TiO₂ nanoparticles showed much higher photocurrent generation for a redox couple of hydroqunone and quinone, compared to that of PEDOT or TiO₂ only. The photoelectrode prepared from PEDOT-on-TiO₂ nanoparticles (ratio 1/2) showed photocurrent higher than 2.8 μA/cm² upon excitation with UV light under an external potential of − 0.4 V (versus Ag/AgCl). The current generation and photoswitching properties was maximized when the feed ratio between TiO₂ and PEDOT was 1:2.

Keywords:

• conductive polymer
• nanoparticle
• photoconductive
• photocurrent

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Energy of Korea (MOCIE), Korea and Seoul R&DB program.