Membrane separation and extraction of lanthanides with constitutional dynamic networks

National audienc

Membrane separation and extraction of lanthanides with constitutional dynamic networks

International audienc

Conductive PEDOT Covalently Bound to Transparent FTO Electrodes

A new 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) monomer derivatized with aminopropyl-triethoxysilane (APTES-EDOT) was prepared via a simple two step reaction in high yield. The new monomer can be firmly grafted to the fluorine 12tin-oxide (FTO) conductive glass, where the irreversible electro-oxidation of surface bound APTES-EDOT, in the presence of unsubstituted EDOT monomers in solution, triggers the cationic polymerization of EDOT, resulting in the incorporation of PEDOT chains into APTES-EDOT. As a result, the modified PEDOT film (Si-PEDOT) is covalently bound to the FTO surface and easily withstands mechanical stresses that are critical for the adhesion of regular PEDOT. When tested with Co(III)/(II) redox shuttles, electrodeposited Si-PEDOT films showed decreased charge transfer and mass transport resistances with respect to both platinum and conventional PEDOT films, leading to enhanced relative efficiencies ( 4810%) when employed as counter electrode in transparent dye sensitized solar cells