Synthesis, characterization, catalytic activity and solar cell study of poly(aniline-co-thymolblue)/metal oxide nanocomposites

•A novel fluorescent copolymer nano composite was prepared.•Catalytic activity of copolymer nanocomposite was tested towards the reduction of Nitrophenol.•Solar cell activity of the copolymer nanocomposite was tested.

The fluorescent conducting copolymer/nanocomposite was prepared under different experimental conditions with variations in [thymolblue] (TB) and weight of metal oxide at 0-5 °C under nitrogen atmosphere for 2 h at constant aniline (ANI) concentration. The above synthesized copolymer nanocomposites were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, fluorescence emission spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and conductivity measurements. Due to the surface catalytic effect of metal oxide, the copolymer followed the 0.20 order of reaction. Further, the solar cell study was carried out to find out the conversion efficiency of the fluorescent copolymer nanocomposite system. Reduction of nitrophenol (NiP) into aminophenol was carried out in the presence of fluorescent copolymer/nanocomposite as a catalyst. The results were critically analyzed and compared with the literature values.