The photocatalytic activity of novel, substituted porphyrin/TiO2-based composites

Four novel porphyrins, 5-[3-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, 5,15-di-[3-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, 5,10,15-tri-[3-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-tetra-[3-(3-phenoxy)-propoxy]phenyl porphyrin, and their corresponding Cu(II) porphyrins, were synthesized and characterized spectroscopically. The photodegradation of 4-nitrophenol in aq. suspension was used to determine the photocatalytic activity of polycrystalline TiO2 samples which had been impregnated with the Cu(II) porphyrins, as sensitizers. The photocatalytic activity of the composite depends mainly on the amount of sensitizer on the TiO2 surface rather than the nature of the substituted porphyrins.