Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of redox active hybrid film

Abstract

Iron oxide has many applications due to its wide distribution and excellent performance. Iron oxide has excellent photoelectrochemical properties and is being extensively studied for many applications in the field of photoelectrochemical catalysis. Another material used in the experiments is viologens. Viologens are composed of two connected pyridine rings that are functionalized at nitrogen, giving them a +2 charge in the oxidized form. Therefore, Viologen has very good redox properties. At one time, Methyl Viologen was widely produced and used as a pesticide (paraquat). In this paper, the performance of the complex of α-iron oxide and PHV and the complex of γ-iron oxide and PHV prepared by the layer-by-layer self-assembly method is explored in the field of electrochemistry and photochemistry.

The aim of this work is trying to prepare the Fe2O3 and viologen together to form the composite films and extend their applications in the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. The prepared complex samples were tested for their electrochemical properties by CV, DPV, and EIS methods, in addition to open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current methods for their photoelectrochemical properties. It was found that the samples are sensitive to blue and UV light testing. Based on the experimental results, the sample that produced the highest photocurrent implying the best absorption of light energy was selected for the degradation test of methylene blue. The experimental results showed a degradation rate of 19% for methylene blue after 7200s at blue light irradiation with oxygen through the solution.