Preparation and characterization of axially substituted silicon phthalocyanine-modified nano TiO2 thin films

Nowadays, reaching of industrial wastes containing durable organic pollutants to water resources is one of the important environmental problems. Cost-effective, nontoxic, thermally and chemically stable, light-sensitive photocatalysts are being developed for the removal of these wastes from water resources. Our aim in this study is to synthesize newly bis-[(4-pyrenebutoxy)]phthalocyaninato silicon (Pyrn-C₄-SiPc) and bis-[n-(9-anthrylmethyl)-n-methylamino]phthalocyaninato silicon (Anthr-C₃-SiPc) molecules and then modify onto TiO₂ nanoparticles. The sol-gel method was used during the modification process to achieve synthesis at lower temperatures to obtain nano TiO₂ crystals in the anatase form. 10% and 25% concentrations of silicon phthalocyanine-modified TiO₂ nanoparticles which are approximately around 5 nm the particle sizes were added to the preparated hybride organic-inorganic polymer network, and were applied to the glass surface by spray method. The resulting coatings’ thicknesses, photocatalytic activities, and optical, physical, morphological, and mechanical properties were tested. The adhesion of the coatings sprayed onto the glass surface was measured as 5B The coatings created were found to have high hardness and resistance in the tests conducted. This research successfully developed photocatalytic hybrid nanocomposite films that are highly transparent with 90% light transmittance exhibit robust photocatalytic activity, and remain color-stable.