Synthesis of novel Se capped polymer photocatalyst mobilized under visible light: Exploration of piezoelectric effect and charge transfer mechanism in polymer matrix

Abstract

The present study has shown the original and promising usage of zero valent metallic selenium in the photocatalysis process under visible light. Selenium (Se) dispersed into the Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and Polyvinylidene Fluoride (PVDF) polymeric solution (Se-PVC/Se-PVDF matrix) by reflux-calcination method. The SEM and TEM results shows Se nanoparticles are well disseminated into the polymer solution and homogenously mixed to avert cluster of particles. The results shows that Se-PVC matrix effectively enhanced the generation rate of photoinduced electrons and reduced transfer resistance endorsed by photoluminescence, transient photocurrent, and electrical impedance spectroscopy techniques. Further, photocatalytic activity studied in presence of potassium iodide (KI) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA). The decrease in photocatalytic activity order is: Se-PVC > Se-PVDF > Se-PVC + KI > Se-PVDF + KI > Se-PVC + IPA > Se-PVDF + IPA systems. The piezoelectricity phenomena and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) effect proposed for Se-PVC/Se-PVDF matrix and correlated with photocatalytic mechanism for the degradation of Methyl Orange (MO).