Synthesis and characterization of surface coated fluorescent carbon dot for visible-responsive photocatalytic effect

The field of photo-electrochemical solar energy conversion significantly overlaps with the area of environmental photocatalysis, which requires not only self-cleaning surfaces, but also antifouling ones. Fouling is a... [ view full abstract ]

The field of photo-electrochemical solar energy conversion significantly overlaps with the area of environmental photocatalysis, which requires not only self-cleaning surfaces, but also antifouling ones. Fouling is a phenomenon that occurs when aquatic microorganisms bind to a surface and form a conditioning layer providing an accessible platform for other aquatic species, such as diatoms and algae, to attach, proliferate, and finally degrade it. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) was found to be the most promising candidate for large scale industrial applications. A photocatalytic surface protected from contact with atmospheric biofoulants can possibly overcome the limitations of all currently existing photocatalytic systems Here, new design for surface protection of TiO2 photocatalysts by coating with fluorescence carbon nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared as a material to absorb photons and promotes the decomposition of organic pollutants on various substrates. We fabricated a synthesis of carbonized fluorescence particles by the acidic dehydration of catechol-q-poly (dimethyl aminoethyl methacrylate) (CA-FNPs) that improve the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under visible light irradiation. We prepared the fluorescent agent using acid treatment (H2SO4) and the presence of catechol group allows FNPs to be bonded to the TiO2 surfaces in a facile way which is using catechol chemistry pH 8.5 (CA-FNPs/TiO2). The carbonized fluorescence NPs (CA-FNPs) exhibit broad UV-vis absorption characteristics, showing identical lattice d-spacings in the TEM images, while the XPS studies clearly indicated structural composites. The adhesive surface coatability of the FNPs was confirmed by the contact angle, SEM, and EDX measurements. The coordination between carbonized CA-FNPs and TiO2 was confirmed by the time-dependent studies of methylene blue degradation under ultraviolet (UV) and visible light irradiation. Moreover, HeLa cell detachments from the CA-FNPs/TiO2-coated surface verify its antifouling properties in the presence of visible light. This approach enhances the utilization of visible light in photocatalytic activity and suggests a new fluorescence coating platform using antifouling properties of the nanocomposites in visible light-mediated photocatalysis can overcome the existing limitations of the currently used materials.