Electroactive Prussian Blue Analogues/TiO2 Nanocomposites Obtained through SILAR Assembly in Mesoporous Nanoarchitectures

• Published in: European journal of inorganic chemistry Vol. 27; no. 2
• Main Authors: Vensaus, Priscila, Caraballo, Rolando M., Tritto, Emiliano, Fernández, Cynthia C., Angelomé, Paula C., Fuertes, M. Cecilia, Williams, Federico J., Soler‐Illia, Galo J. A. A., Baraldo, Luis M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 12.01.2024
• Subjects: Coordination polymers; Energy conversion; mesoporous materials; Nanocomposites; Nanomaterials; Oxidation; Pigments; Prussian Blue Analogues; Substrates; supported catalysts; Thin films; Titanium dioxide; Transition metals; water splitting
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202300576

The preparation of nanomaterials for energy applications such as intercalation batteries and materials that can act as substrates for water oxidation is a subject of major interest nowadays. In this work, we report the deposition of Prussian blue (PB) and its cobalt analogue (CoPBA) on mesoporous titania thin films (MTTF) using the successive ionic layer adsorption reaction (SILAR) technique under soft conditions. A bifunctional ligand, 1,10‐phenanthroline‐5,6‐dione (pd), was used to functionalize the titania surface and promote the growth of PB and CoPBA. The resulting PB@MTTF and CoPBA@MTTF nanocomposites were characterized using several techniques and it was determined that PB and CoPBA grow in a controlled and sequential manner, maintaining the mesoporous architecture. Both PB@MTTF and CoPBA@MTTF demonstrated very good electroactive properties, while CoPBA@MTTF exhibited water oxidation capabilities. The flexibility of this PBA@MTTF platform allows the incorporation of any labile transition metal ion or fragment into the structure of the coordination polymer embedded into a mesoporous matrix, opening the door for (photo)electrochemical devices and catalysts. Ordered Prussian Blue Analogues (PBA) were deposited onto mesoporous TiO2 thin films by a successive ionic adsorption and reaction approach. These highly controlled nanocomposites permit an intimate contact between the PBA and the titania, while retaining the electrochemical and catalytic properties characteristic of the PBA materials for Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER).