Electrochemical grafting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) into a titanium dioxide nanotube host network

Csaba Janáky; Gábor Bencsik; Arpád Rácz; Csaba Visy; Norma R de Tacconi; Wilaiwan Chanmanee; Krishnan Rajeshwar

doi:10.1021/la101300n

Electrochemical grafting of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) into a titanium dioxide nanotube host network

Langmuir. 2010 Aug 17;26(16):13697-702. doi: 10.1021/la101300n.

Authors

Csaba Janáky¹, Gábor Bencsik, Arpád Rácz, Csaba Visy, Norma R de Tacconi, Wilaiwan Chanmanee, Krishnan Rajeshwar

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Szeged, Szeged, H6720, Hungary.

PMID: 20695622
DOI: 10.1021/la101300n

Abstract

This study focuses on electrodeposition for infiltrating in situ a conducting polymer such as poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) into a host titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanotube array (NTA) framework. The TiO(2) NTA was electrosynthesized on titanium foil in turn by anodization in a fluoride-containing medium. The PEDOT layer was electrografted into the TiO(2) NTA framework using a two-step potentiostatic growth protocol in acetonitrile containing supporting electrolyte. The nanoscopic features of oligomer/polymer infiltration and deposition in the NTA interstitial voids were monitored by field-emission scanning electron microscopy. Systematic changes in the nanotube inner diameter and the wall thickness afforded insights into the evolution of the TiO(2)NTA/PEDOT hybrid assembly. This assembly was subsequently characterized by UV-visible diffuse reflectance, cyclic voltammetry, and photoelectrochemical measurements. These data serve as a prelude to further use of these hybrids in heterojunction solar cells.