Photophysical properties of a perylene derivative for use as catalyst in ethanol eletrooxidation

Abstract

The optical, electrochemical, and electronic properties of a perylene derivative, N,N′-bis(5-amino-1,10-phenanthroline)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxidiimide (pPDIp), have been investigated. The optical properties were investigated by fluorescence and absorption spectroscopies. The effect of solvent polarity on the optical properties showed that the Stokes shift increased with decreasing solvent polarity, from 252 cm−1 in dimethylformamide to 1011 cm−1 in acetone, indicating greater stability of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) species in nonpolar solvents, which suggests significant changes in interactions with more compared with less polar solvents. The use of pPDIp as a catalyst in direct ethanol fuel cells was also investigated, using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry. The electrochemical data indicated that pPDIp dispersed in Pt/C (Pt/C:pPDIp) can be used as a catalyst in ethanol electrooxidation, showing catalytic activity analogous to that of metal Pt/C-based catalysts. Direct scanning indicated that the peak current density for the 2:1 Pt/C:pPDIp catalyst was higher than that for mixed catalysts. In addition, chronoamperometry data indicated better catalytic activity at 0.6 V for Pt/C:pPDIp-based catalysts.