Carbon nanotube-enhanced photoelectrochemical properties of metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanines
- Authors: Mphahlele, Nonhlanhla E. , Roux, Lukas Le , Jafta, Charl J. , Cele, Leskey , Mathe, Mkhulu K. , Nyokong, Tebello , Kobayashi, Nagao , Ozoemena, Kenneth I.
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7312 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020538
- Description: The photoelectrochemistry of metallo-octacarboxyphthalocyanines (MOCPc, where M = Zn or Si(OH)2) integrated with MWCNTs for the development of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is reported. The DSSC performance (obtained from the photo-chronoamperometric and photo-impedimetric data) decreased as ZnOCPc > (OH)2SiOCPc. The incorporation of the MWCNTs on the surface of the TiO2 film (MOCPc–MWCNT systems) gave higher photocurrent density than the bare MOCPc complexes. Also, from the EIS results, the MOCPc–MWCNT hybrids gave faster charge transport kinetics (approximately three times faster) compared to the bare MOCPc complexes. The electron lifetime was slightly longer (ca. 6 ms) at the ZnOCPc systems than at the (OH)2SiOCPc system (ca. 4 ms) meaning that the presence of the MWCNTs on the surface of the TiO2 film did not show any significant improvement on preventing charge recombination process. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10853-013-7710-1
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Enhanced nonlinear optical properties of octa-substituted lead and cadmium phthalocyanines when embedded in poly(bisphenol A carbonate) as thin films
- Authors: Mkhize, Colin , Britton, Jonathan , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7320 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020565
- Description: This work presents photophysical and nonlinear optical properties of a novel Cd 2,3-[octakis{4-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyanine}] (CdOtBPPc) and compare them with those of Pb 2,3-[octakis{4-tert-butylphenoxyphthalocyanine}] (PbOtBPPc). For both the CdOtBPPc and PbOtBPPc, third order imaginary susceptibility and second order hyperpolarizability values were found to be within the limit set for good optical limiters. The Pcs were embedded in poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (PBC) as thin films. The optical limiting values of the Pcs once embedded in film were found to be greatly improved and the limiting fluence of each film was well below the maximum threshold. Both PbOtBPPc and CdOtBPPc showed better optical limiting when embedded in PBC compared to PMMA. CdOtBPPc shows better nonlinear optical behavior than PbOtBPPc in solution and as thin films, even though the former is aggregated in solution. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.poly.2014.07.025
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Optical nonlinearities and photophysicochemical behaviour of green and blue forms of lutetium bisphthalocyanines
- Authors: Sekhosana, Kutloano Edward , Amuhaya, Edith , Mack, John , Nyokong, Tebello
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7316 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020543
- Description: A rare earth sandwich-type phthalocyanine: bis-{2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octa(4-tert-butylphenoxy) phthalocyaninato} lutetium(III) has been synthesized. The photophysical and nonlinear optical behavior of both the “green” and “blue” forms ([LuIIIPc2] and [LuIIIPc2]−, respectively) of the complex have been investigated. High triplet state and singlet oxygen quantum yield values were obtained for the neutral blue form which contains no unpaired electrons. Relatively high third order susceptibility and hyperpolarizability values of the order of 10−10 and 10−28 esu were obtained for both the green and blue forms, respectively. A very low threshold intensity of 0.00051 J cm−2 was obtained for the blue form. Hence the complex shows promise for non-linear optical applications. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C4TC00505H
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Polyamide nanofiber membranes functionalized with zinc phthalocyanines
- Authors: Goethals, Annelies , Mugadza, Tawanda , Arslanoglu, Yasin , Zugle, Ruphino , Antunes, Edith M , Hulle, Stijn W H Van , Nyokong, Tebello , Clerck, Karen De
- Language: English
- Type: Article
- Identifier: vital:7313 , http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1020539
- Description: Electrospinning is an efficient method for the production of polyamide nanofiber membranes that are suitable for water filtration. Previous studies have shown that nanofiber membranes have high clean water permeability. The pathogen removal efficiency can be improved by functionalization with (organic) biocides. However, these membranes, like other membranes, are vulnerable to fouling which reduces the filtration efficiency. Therefore the present article investigates the potential of zinc phthalocyanines, which can produce singlet oxygen in the presence of visible light, as a functionalizing agent. The polyamide nanofiber membranes were functionalized with phthalocyanines using both a pre-functionalizing and post-functionalizing method. Only the post-functionalization method shows to result in nanofiber membranes capable of producing singlet oxygen. After 30 min 45% of 1,2-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF), used as an oxygen quencher, was removed by reaction with singlet oxygen. This resulted in a removal rate of 0.33 mol DBPF mol−1Zn min−1. During short term leaching tests, phthalocyanines could not be detected. , Original publication is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/app.40486
- Full Text: false