Rchid Kacimi , Roland Hayn , Imam Makhfudz , Ahmed Azaid , Lahcen Bejjit , Mohammed Bouachrine
{"title":"Designing small push-pull chromophores hole transport materials for perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and organic solar cells with optimum performance","authors":"Rchid Kacimi , Roland Hayn , Imam Makhfudz , Ahmed Azaid , Lahcen Bejjit , Mohammed Bouachrine","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116315","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116315","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research project focused on the modeling and analysis of novel hole-transporting materials (HTMs) using Density Functional Theory (DFT) and Time-Dependent (TD-DFT). The study included the VNMR reference compound and newly proposed chromophores (VNM1–VNM5), designed with triarylamine cores and thiophene-linked end-capped acceptors. The investigation aimed to evaluate their optoelectronic, nonlinear optical (NLO), photovoltaic, and optical properties, with the goal of establishing these HTMs as cost-effective candidates for highly efficient perovskite solar cells (PSCs). The results indicate that these HTMs exhibit better planarity, lower Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) energies, and enhanced solubility, alongside a narrower energy band gap (E<sub>gap</sub>) ranging from 1.61 to 1.27 eV, compared to the reference VNMR (1.95 eV) in the gas phase. In ethanol solvent, the <em>E<sub>gap</sub></em> for VNMR is 1.85 eV, while it ranges from 1.44 to 1.10 eV for VNM1–VNM5. These properties enable efficient hole extraction and solution processing, improving hole transport from the perovskite layer and leading to higher open-circuit voltages (0.18 V–0.33 V) than the reference molecule (0.17 V). The electron and hole reorganization energies range from 0.105 eV to 0.179 eV and 0.041 eV to 0.054 eV, respectively, suggesting improved hole mobility for PSCs. Additionally, all designed HTMs showed better fill factors (0.62–0.74) compared to the reference molecule (0.61). The findings indicate that the VNM1–VNM5 molecules are promising HTMs for the production of high-performance PSCs, with potential future applications in the organic solar cells industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116315"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143158504","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Diego González-Torres , Daniel Zúñiga-Núñez , Nory Mariño-Ocampo , Martín Canals Díaz , Constanza Muñoz , Daniel Guerra Díaz , Marco Soto-Arriaza , Denis Fuentealba
{"title":"Memantine-biotin conjugate with intra tumoral cell displacing ability for cucurbit[8]uril-based switchable photosensitizer","authors":"Diego González-Torres , Daniel Zúñiga-Núñez , Nory Mariño-Ocampo , Martín Canals Díaz , Constanza Muñoz , Daniel Guerra Díaz , Marco Soto-Arriaza , Denis Fuentealba","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Switchable supramolecular photosensitizers have the potential to be more potent and decrease common side effects of photodynamic therapy such as patient’s sensitivity to ambient light. Combining this supramolecular strategy with a cancer-targeting strategy would also improve selectivity towards tumoral cells. In this work, we take advantage of the strong binding ability of cucurbit[8]uril towards cationic photosensitizer methylene blue. Encapsulation of two molecules of methylene blue inside the cavity of cucurbit[8]uril leads to strong quenching of its photoactivity, particularly the generation of singlet oxygen. In order to release selectively the photosensitizer, we synthesized a new memantine-biotin conjugate that is able to cross a liposomal bilayer as a model for a biological membrane and bind to cucurbit[8]uril releasing the photosensitizer. This phenomenon leads to a sizable boost in singlet oxygen generation. In vitro phototoxicity studies in tumoral cells show a significant difference in cell killing after the addition of the memantine-biotin displacing agent. These studies have important potential for more selective photodynamic therapy of cancer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"463 ","pages":"Article 116305"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Highly sensitive, label-free ATP detection using a small molecule–metal-based ensemble with a ratiometric absorption and fluorescence light-up approach","authors":"Mhejabeen Sayed","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116286","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116286","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) plays a vital role as a signalling molecule in numerous physiological functions, and imbalances in ATP levels are associated with various diseases. As a result, considerable attention has been directed toward its detection. Herein, a new small molecule–metal-based ensemble is developed for ATP detection in pure water, utilizing the inexpensive commercially available probe 1′-hydroxy-2′-acetonaphthone (1H2AN) and Cu<sup>2+</sup> ion. In this system, the Cu<sup>2+</sup> ion quenches the fluorescence of 1H2AN and induces a remarkable red shift (∼24 nm) in the absorption peak. Upon ATP addition, the 1H2AN-Cu<sup>2+</sup> ensemble exhibits ratiometric changes in absorption and fluorescence turn-on response, attributed to the strong coordination ability between ATP and Cu<sup>2+</sup> ion. This sensor system demonstrates an impressive detection limit as low as 0.36 μM. This system is simple yet highly sensitive, operating in water with dual-wavelength responses. Additionally, employing the commercial probe offers advantages over synthetic alternatives, saving both time and resources. The fluorescence off–on switching of 1H2AN with Cu<sup>2+</sup> and ATP facilitated the construction of an IMPLICATION logic gate. Importantly, the 1H2AN-Cu<sup>2+</sup> ensemble was effective in quantifying ATP in 0.15 M NaCl (mimicking physiological conditions), and in diluted human urine, demonstrating its promise for real bioanalytical applications. The current study highlights the potential of small molecule–metal-based complexes for ATP sensing and future biosensing platforms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116286"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143158007","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Deniz Kilic Ozturk , Demet Karaca Balta , Binnur Aydogan Temel , Gokhan Temel
{"title":"Highly sensitive fluorescent single-chain polymeric nanoparticles as chemosensors for selective Fe3+ detection","authors":"Deniz Kilic Ozturk , Demet Karaca Balta , Binnur Aydogan Temel , Gokhan Temel","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116317","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116317","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work describes a straightforward technique for preparing single–chain polymeric nanoparticles by photodimerization of pendant anthracene moieties on the side chain of styrenic and acrylic based linear polymers. The resulting single–chain polymeric nanoparticles (SCNPs) are then converted into pyrene functional nanoparticles through the simple Diels–Alder post–functionalization method. Polymeric nanoparticles containing maleimide and pyrene entities were deployed as a chemosensor capable of selectively detecting Fe<sup>3+</sup> ions. Adding Fe<sup>3+</sup> ions into achieved nanoparticle medium, color change is readily visible with unaided eye. The chemosensor’s ability to sense Fe<sup>3+</sup> ions remained unaltered by the presence of other metal ions, such as Al<sup>3+</sup>, Ba<sup>2+</sup>, Ca<sup>2+</sup>, Cr<sup>3+</sup>, K<sup>+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup>, Na<sup>+</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, Ni<sup>2+</sup>, and Sn<sup>2+</sup>. These results suggest that functional SCNP is a potential probe of Fe<sup>3+</sup> ions and it will be beneficial for future SCNP sensor design. They exhibit high sensitivity and selectivity for the detection of Fe<sup>3+</sup> in the micromolar concentration range, making it a promising tool for Fe<sup>3+</sup> detection even in the presence of other common interfering metal ions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116317"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143230431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M.Paula Militello , Micaela E. Grassano , Ernesto M. Arbeloa , Sonia G. Bertolotti , Carlos M. Previtali
{"title":"Eosin B/amine as photoinitiator system of vinyl polymerization. A photophysical study of the dye","authors":"M.Paula Militello , Micaela E. Grassano , Ernesto M. Arbeloa , Sonia G. Bertolotti , Carlos M. Previtali","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The photopolymerization of acrylamide in water under visible irradiation was initiated by the system eosin B/triethanolamine in deaerated conditions. In order to understand the mechanism of photoinitiation, the photophysics of the dye in the absence and presence of the amine was studied. The absorption and fluorescence properties in ethanol–water mixtures were determined. The fluorescence quantum yields were 0.003 and 0.02 in water and ethanol, respectively. The triplet state was observed by laser flash photolysis only in the alcohol. In water, the transient signal could not be detected. The triplet quantum yield was estimated at 0.08. In the absence of the amine or in air equilibrated solutions the polymer was not formed. Since no triplet is detected by laser flash photolysis in water, the question regarding the photoinitiation mechanism arises. It is suggested that, despite the lack of transient signal with our laser photolysis system, the triplet is formed in very low yield. Since the dye is photostable under the irradiation conditions of the polymerization experiments, in the long term polymerization could take place initiated by the triplet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"463 ","pages":"Article 116313"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142538","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Peng Liu , Tengfei Zhao , Bingqian Li , Menghan Hou , Xue Zhang , Xiaofeng Yang , Guangyou Zhang , Na Jiang
{"title":"A new multifunctional fluorescent sensor based on benzoisoxazol derivatives for monitoring Ga3+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions in different solvents","authors":"Peng Liu , Tengfei Zhao , Bingqian Li , Menghan Hou , Xue Zhang , Xiaofeng Yang , Guangyou Zhang , Na Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116292","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116292","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A new multi-target sensor, (<em>E</em>)-2-(benzo[<em>d</em>]isoxazol-3-yl)-N’-(4-(diethylamino)-2-hydroxybenzylidene)acetohydrazide (<strong>BIDA</strong>), was designed using benzoisoxazole, characterized by its simplicity and ease of synthesis. An “off-on” effect towards Ga<sup>3+</sup> ions in DMSO/H<sub>2</sub>O tris buffer and an “off-on-off” effect towards Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Mn<sup>2+</sup> ions in ACN/H<sub>2</sub>O tris buffer were exhibited by <strong>BIDA</strong>. Simultaneously, Ga<sup>3+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Mn<sup>2+</sup> ions were detected by <strong>BIDA</strong>, with lower detection limits of 1.91 × 10<sup>−8</sup> M, 6.30 × 10<sup>−9</sup> M and 1.95 × 10<sup>−8</sup> M. The 1:2 chelation stoichiometry of the complexes formed between the sensor and Ga<sup>3+</sup>, Mg<sup>2+</sup> and Mn<sup>2+</sup> was confirmed using analysis of Job’s plot and mass spectrometry. Different concentrations of analyte ions in environment water samples were effectively identified by the <strong>BIDA</strong> sensor, and an independent, user-friendly paper sensor was successfully developed for their detection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116292"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143230432","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Awad I. Said , Desislava Staneva , Daniela Atanasova , Albena Jordanova , Ivo Grabchev
{"title":"A new photoactive water-soluble polypropylene imine dendrimer modified with 1,8-naphthalimide and N-glucosamine for light-driven self-sterilizing cotton fabrics","authors":"Awad I. Said , Desislava Staneva , Daniela Atanasova , Albena Jordanova , Ivo Grabchev","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is one of the effective strategies for facing the resistance of pathogenic microorganisms of traditional antibiotics. In connection with this, new effective compounds are being sought, increasing their biological activity upon irradiation. In this work, a new polypropylene imine (PPI) from the first generation was synthesized and modified with 1,8-naphthalimide, to which a sulfonyl chloride group (D1) was introduced at the C-4 atom, from which after interaction with glucosamine, a dendrimer containing a sulphonamide group (D2) was obtained. The photophysical characteristics of dendrimer D2 were investigated in five organic solvents of different polarity and aqueous media. It was found that the absorption and fluorescence maxima are slightly affected by the polarity of the solvents. Excimer and monomeric fluorescence were also recorded with dendrimer D2 in an aqueous solution. Dendrimer D2 was deposited on the surface of the cotton fabric, and its release from the cotton fabric was studied for 4 h in a phosphate buffer at 37 °C. The antimicrobial activity of dendrimer D2 was investigated in meat-peptone broth (MPB) against Gram-positive <em>B. cereus</em> and Gram-negative <em>P. aeruginosa</em> and on cotton fabric compared in the dark and after irradiation with sunlight. It has been found that after irradiation with light, the activity of D2 and cotton fabrics is enhanced due to their antimicrobial photodynamic activity. Additionally, light can be utilized to self-sterilize cotton fabrics when treated with D2.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116306"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143157977","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carolina Vesga-Hernández , Rafael dos Santos Carvalho , Arthur Barreto , Marlin Jeannette Pedrozo Peñafiel , Julia Rodrigues de Noronha , Luís Maqueira , Davi Back , Dayvid Mello Nascimento , Leandro H. Zucolotto Cocca , Ricardo Queiroz Aucélio , Leonardo de Boni , Marco Cremona , Jones Limberger
{"title":"Aggregation-Induced enhanced emission and twisted intramolecular charge transfer in a pyridylcarbodinitrile with tunable photoluminescence in solution, films, and OLEDs","authors":"Carolina Vesga-Hernández , Rafael dos Santos Carvalho , Arthur Barreto , Marlin Jeannette Pedrozo Peñafiel , Julia Rodrigues de Noronha , Luís Maqueira , Davi Back , Dayvid Mello Nascimento , Leandro H. Zucolotto Cocca , Ricardo Queiroz Aucélio , Leonardo de Boni , Marco Cremona , Jones Limberger","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116312","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116312","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Novel phenylpyridylcarbodinitrile (<strong>PPC</strong>) derivatives were synthesized to develop materials whose emission properties can be tuned by changes in their dissolving/dispersing environment. In solution these compounds exhibit blue to green fluorescence with quantum yields between 0.01 and 0.70. The large Stokes shifts, along with the significant rotational freedom of the rings and computational data indicate twisted intramolecular charge transfer (TICT) excited states for these <strong>PPCs</strong>. The dimethylmethoxyaryl-substituted <strong>PPC</strong> (<strong>MT-PPC</strong>) exhibited distinctive emissive properties, featuring highly environment-dependent fluorescence in solution, with a <strong>Δλ<sub>em</sub></strong> = 118 nm. Additionally, this compound exhibits aggregation-induced enhanced emission (AIEE), with a 19-fold photoluminescence quantum yield enhancement upon aggregation, whose emission profile is very similar to those observed with <strong>MT-PPC</strong> as a pure thin film. Conversely, in SF3PO films doped with <strong>MT-PPC</strong>, the emission is dependent on <strong>MT-PPC</strong> percentage. Films with 5 % and 10 % exhibit blue-shifted fluorescence (433 and 436 nm) compared to the 20 % film (445 nm), and especially compared to the pure film (468 nm). Interestingly, OLEDs with the same doped films also present environment-dependent behavior, with similar trends regarding the emission maximum. OLEDs with 5 % and 10 % show electroluminescence maxima at 437 nm, while the OLED with 20 % <strong>MT-PPC</strong> exhibits emission centered at 463 nm. Furthermore, these changes in dopant content shift the chromaticity coordinates from (0.18, 0.15) to (0.20, 0.26), demonstrating that the emissive properties of <strong>MT-PPC</strong> are environment-dependent, and consequently tunable in solution, thin films, and OLEDs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116312"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143158009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Photoelectrochemical aptasensor for detection of Ochratoxin A in synthetic red wine samples","authors":"Nicole Briones , Humberto Gómez , Rodrigo Henríquez , Víctor Rojas , María Villarroel","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The detection of Ochratoxin A (OTA) in wine samples is crucial for ensuring the safety and quality of wine products. Addressing this need, a photoelectrochemical aptasensor composed of electrochemically synthesized zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO-NRs), cadmium sulfide nanofibers (CdS) deposited via chemicalp bath deposition, gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) obtained through electrochemical reduction and selective aptamers added by drop casting has been developed. The ZnO-NRs provide a high surface area, while CdS nanofibers enhance photoelectrochemical properties, Au-NPs facilitate electron transfer, and the aptamers offer high selectivity towards OTA. The morphology and structure of the synthesized compounds were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Evaluation of the aptasensor’s performance in synthetic wine samples demonstrated that the photocurrent signal significantly improves sensor sensitivity compared to dark conditions, owing to the enhanced electron transfer upon photoexcitation of the CdS semiconductor. The aptasensor achieved a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.5 μg/L and 1.8 μg/L, respectively, surpassing the European Union’s OTA threshold of 2 μg/L in wines. These findings highlight the potential application of the developed aptasensor in the wine export industry and open new avenues for the development of photoelectrochemical biosensors for various analytes by modifying the aptamer.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"463 ","pages":"Article 116311"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143142537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yeon Gyo Shim , Jong Young Ko , Ji Hyun Kim , Seung Hyeon Jeong , Woon Yong Sohn
{"title":"Investigation of the role of TiO2 underlayer in the anodic potential shift of the onset potential in hematite photoanode","authors":"Yeon Gyo Shim , Jong Young Ko , Ji Hyun Kim , Seung Hyeon Jeong , Woon Yong Sohn","doi":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116303","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jphotochem.2025.116303","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We fabricated hematite (α-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>)-based photoanodes with TiO<sub>2</sub> underlayer to reveal the origin of the unexpected anodic shift of the onset potential. We demonstrated that, particularly at the relatively low applied bias voltage, the TiO<sub>2</sub> underlayer played a significant role in Fermi level pinning, resulting in the reduction of the photovoltage. The back recombination between the long-lived holes surviving at the surface of α-Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and the free electrons in the conductive substrate was retarded in the presence of the TiO<sub>2</sub> underlayer, implying that it acted as a blocking layer, but the trap-mediated recombination could be accelerated, resulting in the reduction of the photocurrent at the low applied bias condition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":16782,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A-chemistry","volume":"464 ","pages":"Article 116303"},"PeriodicalIF":4.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143158010","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}