New dye sensitized photocatalysts: Copper(II)-phthalocyanine/TiO2 nanocomposite for water remediation

•Production of novel copper azomethyn-bridged phenolic phtalocyanines (CuPc).•Characterization of CuPc molecules.•Production of CuPc/TiO2 nanocomposites.•Structural analyses of CuPc/TiO2 nanocomposites.•Photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI) and photocatalytic disinfection properties.

In this study, a group of novel copper azomethyn-bridged phenolic phtalocyanines (CuPc) were synthesized. These derivatives are completely new, synthesis and characterization studies are first time reported. Four derivatives which have peripheral or non-peripheral substitution on macrocyclic ring were produced and characterized employing various spectroscopic methods. CuPc were immobilized on TiO2 nanoparticles to obtain dye sensitized photoactive nanocomposites (1% of the mass of TiO2). Prepared composites were characterized by SEM, EDX, UV-vis, DRS and XRD analysis. Results revealed that the composites possess anatase structure and phthalocyanine loading on TiO2 exposes strong visible light absorption. Photocatalytic activities of the produced composite materials were tested for reduction of Cr(VI) as a model pollutant and its disinfection properties were investigated using Escherichia coli as a model microorganism employing a near visible UV-A light (365 nm) source. All composite materials exhibited much more photocatalytic activity than bare TiO2 for both pollutants.

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