Development of Narrow Band-Gap Organic Semiconductors for Photothermal Applications
Faculty Mentor Information
Dr. John Thurston (Mentor), College of Idaho
Abstract
The photothermal properties of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride materials (C-C3N4) were studied. Samples of C-doped graphitic carbon nitride materials by direct thermal polymerization of urea, dicyandiamide and potassium citrate or 1,5-naphthalenediamine at 550°C. Physical characterization indicates that the tri-s-triazine polymeric structure that is characteristic of the carbon nitride lattice is retained upon carbon doping. Relative to pure samples of C3N4, carbon-doped materials exhibit strong photothermal effects when subjected to either infrared (l = 808 nm) or visible (l = 650 nm) radiation, with observed heating rates being in excess of 50°C/sec for the most active compositions. Stable films of the materials were successfully fabricated by complexing solid samples of C-C3N4 with poly(vinylacetate)/poly(vinylalcohol). The potential utility of these materials for photoactivated microbiocidal applications was assessed.
Development of Narrow Band-Gap Organic Semiconductors for Photothermal Applications
The photothermal properties of carbon-doped graphitic carbon nitride materials (C-C3N4) were studied. Samples of C-doped graphitic carbon nitride materials by direct thermal polymerization of urea, dicyandiamide and potassium citrate or 1,5-naphthalenediamine at 550°C. Physical characterization indicates that the tri-s-triazine polymeric structure that is characteristic of the carbon nitride lattice is retained upon carbon doping. Relative to pure samples of C3N4, carbon-doped materials exhibit strong photothermal effects when subjected to either infrared (l = 808 nm) or visible (l = 650 nm) radiation, with observed heating rates being in excess of 50°C/sec for the most active compositions. Stable films of the materials were successfully fabricated by complexing solid samples of C-C3N4 with poly(vinylacetate)/poly(vinylalcohol). The potential utility of these materials for photoactivated microbiocidal applications was assessed.