Investigation of TiO2/PPy nanocomposite for photocatalytic applications; synthesis, characterization, and combination with various substrates: a review

The use of photocatalysis technology, specifically visible light photocatalysis that relies on sustainable solar energy, is the most promising for the degradation of contaminants. The interaction of conducting polymer and titanium dioxide (TiO2) leads to the exchange that enhances the alteration of the semiconductor's surface and subsequently decreases the bandgap energy. Polypyrrole (PPy) and TiO2 nanocomposites have promising potential for photocatalytic degradation. Chemically and electrochemical polymerization are two predominant methods for adding inorganic nanoparticles to a conducting polymer host matrix. The most commonly utilized method for producing PPy/TiO2 nanocomposites is the in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization technique. Immobilizing PPy/TiO2 on substrates causes more charge carriers (electron/hole pairs) to be produced on the surface of TiO2 and enhances the rate of photocatalytic degradation compared to pure TiO2. The increased surface charge affects how electron/hole pairs are formed when visible light is used. This study provides a comprehensive investigation into the synthesis, characterization, application, efficiency, and mechanism of PPy/TiO2 nanocomposites in the photocatalytic degradation process of various pollutants. Furthermore, the effect of stabilizing the TiO2/PPy nanocomposite on various substrates will be investigated. In conclusion, the review outlines the ongoing challenges in utilizing these photocatalysts and highlights the essential concerns that require attention in future research. Its objective is to help researchers better understand photocatalysts and encourage their use in wastewater treatment.

A New 3D Printing System of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) for Realizing a High Electrical Conductivity and Fine Processing Resolution

Micro-nano 3D printing of the conductive 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene polymer (PEDOT) was performed in this study. An oil immersion objective lens was introduced into the 3D photofabrication system using a femtosecond pulsed laser as the light source. As a result, the processing resolution in the horizontal and vertical directions was improved in comparison to our previous study. A relatively high electrical conductivity (3500 S/cm) was found from the obtained 3D PEDOT micro-structures. It is noteworthy that the high conductivity of the PEDOT was obtained in the mixed state with an insulating Nafion sheet.

Multiphoton microfabrication of conducting polymer-based biomaterials

Multiphoton microfabrication was used to prepare CP-based materials for drug delivery and stimulating tissues.