New Type of Photoactive Materials Based on TiO2 Modified by Anthraquinone Derivatives / Nowe Fotoaktywne Materiały W Oparciu O TiO2 Modyfikowany Pochodnymi Antrachinonu

Abstract

Anthraquinone derivatives chemisorbed at nanocrystalline TiO2 present a new type of photoactive hybrid materials. These systems consist of organic chromophores anchored to the semiconductor surface via oxygen atoms of hydroxyl or carbonyl group. The bond between the chromophore and the titanium atom at the semiconductor surface reveals strong covalent character which makes the material stable in wide spectrum of electric potential and in an acidic environment. In alkaline solutions hydrolysis can be observed. The electrodes made of a modified TiO2 generate photocurrents within 300-700 nm, compared, with 300-400 nm for unmodified TiO2. Such an efficient photosensitization is a result of mutual arrangement of energy levels of the molecule and energy bands of the semiconductor.