Abstract

Using a 1∶1 tetrakis(4-N-hexadecylpyridiniumyl)porphyrin/anthraquinone (TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ) mixture as film-forming material, the structure and properties of TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ mixed monolayers or LB films were studied by π–A isotherms, UV–VIS absorption spectra, and low-angle X-ray diffraction (LAXD). The experimental results indicate that the TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ mixture has good film-forming properties at the air/water interface. The TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ mixed monolayer can be transferred to glass, quartz or SnO₂ optically transparent electrode (OTE) substrates. Most AnQ molecules are incorporated into the cavities between the long alkyl chains of TC₁₆PyP(4) molecules in the mixed monolayer or in LB films. The TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ mixed LB films can be regarded as a two-dimensional host–guest system and show good stability and periodicity. The photovoltaic behaviour of an electrochemical cell containing a TC₁₆PyP(4)/AnQ LB film, deposited on an SnO₂ OTE, was also investigated. The photocurrent and photovoltage are apparently lower than those for the photocell of pure TC₁₆PyP(4) LB films due to the incorporation of AnQ.