Gusiak N. Heterostructures of titanium dioxide and polymethine dyes as photocatalysts for redox transformations of potassium iodide and methylene blue

New approaches and methods of synthesis of the light sensitive systems with extended spectral range through designing of the heterostructures of titanium dioxide and polymethine dyes have been investigated. Such systems can effectively photocatalyse some redox processes. Some spectral, electrochemical and energy characteristics of the polymethine dyes were determined and their reduction and oxidation potentials were found using the cycle voltammetry method. Besides, all electrode potentials were checked for their reversibility and many dyes were found suitable for production of the highly effective photocatalytic systems. Special features of the polymethine dyes sensitizing activity have been analyzed and a mechanism of their photocatalytic action was proposed. This mechanism was tested and approved using the reaction of potassium iodide oxidation and methylene blue reduction in the systems with various heterostructures.