Photocatalytic behavior of phthalocyanine-silver nanoparticle conjugates supported on polystyrene fibers

• Carbazole derivatized phthalocyanines are conjugated to silver nanoparticles.
• Increased singlet oxygen quantum yields are observed for the conjugates.
• The conjugates were electrospun into fibers for photodegradation of methyl orange.
• Photodegradation was faster in the presence of silver nanoparticles.

Herein, carbazole derivatized non-peripheral (1,(4)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninatozinc(II), 3-TCbZnPc) and peripheral (2,(3)-tetra(carbazol-2-yloxy)phthalocyaninato zinc(II), 4-TCbZnPc) are conjugated to silver nanoparticles and their photochemical and photophysical behavior are reported. The presence of silver nanoparticles resulted in reduced fluorescence, and increased triplet and singlet oxygen quantum yields. The conjugates were further electrospun into polystyrene fibers, and employed for the photodegradation of methyl orange. The photodegradation of methyl orange using all functionalized fibers followed first order kinetics, and was faster when the conjugates with silver nanoparticles were used. The non-peripherally substituted 3-TCbZnPc gave better photocatalytic activity compared to its peripherally substituted counterpart (4-TCbZnPc). The hybrid electrospun fibers provide great potential as active photocatalysts for degrading organic pollutants.

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