The nanoscale morphology and photoactivity of conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) deposited from different solvents onto single crystal TiO(2) were investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and photocurrent spectroscopy. CPE surface coverages on TiO(2) could be incremenentally increased by adsorbing the CPEs from static solutions. The solvents used for polymer adsorption influenced the surface morpohology of the CPEs on the TiO(2) surface. Photocurrent spectroscopy measurements in aqueous electrolytes, using iodide as a hole scavenger, revealed that the magnitude of the sensitized photocurrents was related to the surface coverages and the degree of aggregation of the CPEs as determined by AFM imaging. Absorbed photon-to-current efficiencies approaching 50% were measured for CPE layers as thick as 4 nm on TiO(2). These results suggest that precise control of CPE morphology at the TiO(2) interface can be achieved through optimization of the deposition conditions to improve the power conversion efficiencies of polymer-sensitized solar cells.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/la201837v | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Strong Anionic Fluorene Donor-Acceptor Copolyelectrolytes from Protected Hydrophobic Precursors.
Macromol Rapid Commun
January 2025
Polymer Science, Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 3, Groningen, 9747 AG, The Netherlands.
Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs), materials that are defined by a -conjugated backbone and charged ionic functional groups, are frequently prepared through direct polymerization of charged monomer species in aqueous media. This route is, however, often accompanied by labor-intensive work-up procedures, low yields, and ultimately results in materials that are difficult to characterize. To overcome these inconveniences, in this work protection chemistry is applied on sulfonate-functionalized fluorene monomers that are polymerized under standard Suzuki polycondensation conditions to obtain protected donor-acceptor copolymers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEfficient Strategy for Protein Drug Carrier Design for Insights into the Protein-Polyelectrolyte Interaction.
Langmuir
January 2025
State Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China.
The protein carrier and encapsulation system based on polyelectrolytes plays crucial roles in drug research and development. Traditional methods such as isothermal titration calorimetry and molecular dynamics simulation have illuminated parts of this complex relationship. However, they fall short of capturing the full picture of the interaction during the carrier's fabrication and protein loading dynamics.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdvancements and Applications of Conjugated Polyelectrolytes and Conjugated Oligoelectrolytes in Bioanalytical and Electrochemical Contexts.
JACS Au
December 2024
Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana 47405, United States.
In the past decade, conjugated oligoelectrolytes (COEs) and conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPEs) have emerged at the forefront of active materials in bioanalytical and electrochemical settings due to their unique electronic and ionic properties. These materials possess π-conjugated backbones with ionic functionalities at the ends of their side chains, granting them water solubility and facilitating their processability, exploration, and applications in aqueous environments. In this perspective, the basis for evaluating their figures of merit in selected bioanalytical and electrochemical contexts will be provided and contextualized.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnveiling the self-assembly process of gellan-chitosan complexes through a combination of atomistic simulations and experiments.
Int J Biol Macromol
December 2024
Institute for Complex Systems, National Research Council, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; Department of Physics, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy. Electronic address:
Polyelectrolyte complexes (PECs), formed via the self-assembly of oppositely charged polysaccharides, are highly valued for their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and hydrophilicity, offering significant potential for biotechnological applications. However, the complex nature and lack of insight at a molecular level into polyelectrolytes conformation and aggregation often hinders the possibility of achieving an optimal control of PEC systems, limiting their practical applications. To address this problem, an in-depth investigation of PECs microscopic structural organization is required.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSwelling Behavior of Anionic Hydrogels: Experiments and Modeling.
Gels
December 2024
Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy.
Polyelectrolyte hydrogels are smart materials whose swelling behavior is governed by ionizable groups on their polymeric chains, making them sensitive to pH and ionic strength. This study combined experiments and modeling to characterize anionic hydrogels. Mechanical tests and gravimetric analyses were performed to track hydrogel mass over time and at a steady state under varying pH and salt concentrations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!