In Situ Generation of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/Ag2SeO3 Nanohybrids at Hexane/Water Interface for Photodegradation of Organic Dyes

Abstract

Liquid/liquid interfacial synthesis offers a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional solid-state reactions, primarily due to its adaptability to low-temperature and pressure conditions. In the present work, this innovative approach is explored to generate silver selenites within a conducting polymer matrix in an in situ manner. Therefore, a hexane/water interface is employed for the synthesis of Ag₂SeO₃ on PEDOT support under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. Furthermore, the influence of con. H₂SO₄ on the polymerization of 3,4 – ethylenedioxythiophene and the regeneration of Ag₂SeO₃ during polymerization is strategically investigated by ranging the compositions of the precursors. The X-ray diffraction patterns proved the highly crystalline nature of the nanohybrids with intense peaks attributed to the crystalline Ag₂SeO₃ attached to PEDOT. The successful formation of the PEDOT/Ag₂SeO₃ nanohybrids is also confirmed through Raman spectroscopy, FT-IR, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, SEM images and elemental composition studies verified the morphology and uniform distribution of nanoparticles within the polymer matrix. The efficiency of the liquid/liquid interface in tuning the optical properties, including the band gap tuning of the PEDOT/Ag₂SeO₃ nanohybrids is verified using UV–vis absorbance and photoluminescence characterizations. The optimized PEDOT/Ag₂SeO₃ nanohybrid demonstrated enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB) and methylene Blue (MB), indicating their potential for real-life applications.