Porphyrin–TiO2 nanoparticle heterostructure assembly by Langmuir–Blodgett method

Surface pressure–area (π–A) isotherm characteristics of 5,10,15-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-20-(4-hexadecyloxyphenyl) porphyrin monolayers on both the water and TiO₂ hydrosol subphases, the UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectra of the monolayers deposited onto CaF₂ substrates are investigated. π–A isotherms find that the porphyrin ring extends to lie more flat on a TiO₂ hydrosol surface than on a water surface. The UV–vis absorption spectra of the deposited monolayers prove that the porphyrin TiO₂ nanoparticle heterostructure assembly is formed, in which the J-aggregated effect of porphyrin is weakened, comparing with that in the monolayer deposited from water subphase. The fluorescence spectra show that the fluorescent emission quenching by the photoinduced electron transfer from the excited porphyrin molecule to TiO₂ nanoparticle, occurs under excitation in the Soret band region of porphyrin.