Photocatalytic polypyrrole-TiO₂-nanoparticles composite thin film generated at the air-water interface

Abstract

Herein, we report a new method of generation of TiO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) incorporated thin films of polypyrrole (PPy) at the air−water interface. Aqueous TiO₂ NPs when treated with H₂O₂ and left in a chamber of pyrrole vapor resulted in the formation of a film at the interface, in addition to bulk precipitate. Spectroscopic, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopic measurements establish the formation of a thin film of PPy with the incorporation of TiO₂ NPs. The TiO₂-containing PPy films when transferred onto glass substrates were able to photo catalyze the decomposition of aqueous organic dyes:  methyl orange and methylene blue. Further, these films could also photo catalyze the oxidation of iodide to triiodide ions in aqueous potassium iodide solution. We find that the PPy−TiO₂ composite films catalyze the reactions in the presence of light more efficiently than a suspension of TiO₂ NPs.