Short-Range π–π Stacking Assembly on P25 TiO2 Nanoparticles for Enhanced Visible-Light Photocatalysis

Utilization of the renewable solar fuel based on a perylenetetracarboxylic acid diimide (PTCDI)–semiconductor composite represents an effective method to solve the energy crisis; however, most applications have focused on dye sensitization of the monomolecular layer. Here the synergy effect of PTCDI self-assembly and P25 nanoparticles (NPs) has been elucidated systematically from the PTCDI stacking structure on P25 NP and electron transfer (ET) mode, for which the visible-light photocatalytic activity of PTCDI self-assembly through the assistance of P25 has been acquired and enhanced, even up to 7 times with the addition of EDTA. It has been found that self-assembly of PTCDI nanowires (NWs) as building blocks has been reconstructed on P25 NP via arrangement of short-range π–π stacking that is important for high photocatalytic activity. We inferred that the indentation plays a key role in the formation of the short-range π–π stacking mode on the basis of the results of XRD, photoluminescence, transient dec...