Spectroscopic studies of porphyrin functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their interaction with TiO₂ nanoparticles surface

Marco Zannotti; Rita Giovannetti; Chiara Anna D'Amato; Elena Rommozzi

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2015.07.111

Spectroscopic studies of porphyrin functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes and their interaction with TiO₂ nanoparticles surface

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2016 Jan 15:153:22-9. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2015.07.111. Epub 2015 Aug 10.

Authors

Marco Zannotti¹, Rita Giovannetti², Chiara Anna D'Amato², Elena Rommozzi²

Affiliations

¹ School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy. Electronic address: marco.zannotti@unicam.it.
² School of Science and Technology, Chemistry Division, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, MC, Italy.

PMID: 26282320
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2015.07.111

Abstract

UV-vis and fluorescence investigations about the non-covalent interaction, in ethanolic solutions, of multi-wall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) with Coproporphyrin-I, and its Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes (MCPIs) have been reported. Evidence of binding between MWCNTs and porphyrins was discovered from spectral adsorption decrease with respect to free porphyrins and by the exhibition of photoluminescence quenching with respect to free porphyrins demonstrating that MWCNT@MCPIs are potential donor-acceptor complexes. Equilibrium and kinetic aspects in the interactions with monolayer transparent TiO2 thin films with the obtained MWCNT@MCPIs are clarified showing their effective adsorption by porphyrin links on the TiO2 monolayer support, with respect to not only MWCNTs, according to the Langmuir model and with pseudo-first-order kinetics. Morphological description of the adsorption of MWCNT@MCPIs on TiO2 with scanning electron microscopy has been reported. The obtained experimental evidences describe therefore MWCNT@MCPIs as potential sensitizers in the DSSC (Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell) applications.

Keywords: Absorption kinetics; Carbon nanotubes; Fluorescence quenching; Non-covalent interaction; Porphyrin; TiO(2).