Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies
Despite the enormous environmental damage caused by plastic waste, it makes up over one-third of globally produced plastics. Polyethylene (PE) wastes have low recycling but high production rates. Towards the construction of ionic solar cells from PE, the present work describes the loading of a bioac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/22/4811 |
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| author | Maryam Alhefeiti Falguni Chandra Ravindra Kumar Gupta Na’il Saleh |
| author_facet | Maryam Alhefeiti Falguni Chandra Ravindra Kumar Gupta Na’il Saleh |
| author_sort | Maryam Alhefeiti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite the enormous environmental damage caused by plastic waste, it makes up over one-third of globally produced plastics. Polyethylene (PE) wastes have low recycling but high production rates. Towards the construction of ionic solar cells from PE, the present work describes the loading of a bioactive photoacid phycocyanobilin (PCB) dye from the pigment of Spirulina blue–green algae (as a natural resource) on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic film. Dyeing was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon excitation of the Soret-band (400 nm), the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of PCB in neat solvents revealed two prominent emission peaks at 450–550 and 600–700 nm. The first band assigned to bilirubin-like (PCB<sub>BR</sub>) species predominated the spectral profile in the highly rigid solvent glycerol and upon loading 0.45 % (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) of the dye on plastic. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of PCB for the second region (Q-band) at 672 nm in the same solvents confirmed the ground state heterogenicity previously associated with the presence of PCB<sub>A</sub> (neutral), PCB<sub>B</sub> (cationic), and PCB<sub>C</sub> (anionic) conformers. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements induced via excitation of all PCB species at 510 nm in methanol revealed three-lifetime components with τ<sub>1</sub> = ~0.1 ns and τ<sub>2</sub> = ~2 ns associated with PCB<sub>BR</sub> species and τ<sub>3</sub> = ~5 ns pertinent to the long-living photoproduct X*. Decay-associated spectra (DAS) analysis of the photoluminescence transient spectra of the final dyed films in the solid-state confirmed the improved generation of the long-living photoproduct as manifested in a significant increase in the PL intensity (~100-fold) and lifetime value (~90 ns) in the Q-region upon loading 6.92 % (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) of the dye on plastic. The photoproduct species were presumably assigned to the deprotonated PCB species, suggesting improved ionic mobility. The potential implementation of the PCB-sensitized PE solid wastes for the fabrication of ionic solar cells is discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:04:22Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d249b766a2aa49bc85983a5cafd0405c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:04:22Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-d249b766a2aa49bc85983a5cafd0405c2023-11-24T09:41:23ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-11-011422481110.3390/polym14224811Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence StudiesMaryam Alhefeiti0Falguni Chandra1Ravindra Kumar Gupta2Na’il Saleh3Department of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesKing Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain P.O. Box 15551, United Arab EmiratesDespite the enormous environmental damage caused by plastic waste, it makes up over one-third of globally produced plastics. Polyethylene (PE) wastes have low recycling but high production rates. Towards the construction of ionic solar cells from PE, the present work describes the loading of a bioactive photoacid phycocyanobilin (PCB) dye from the pigment of Spirulina blue–green algae (as a natural resource) on low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic film. Dyeing was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Upon excitation of the Soret-band (400 nm), the photoluminescence (PL) spectra of PCB in neat solvents revealed two prominent emission peaks at 450–550 and 600–700 nm. The first band assigned to bilirubin-like (PCB<sub>BR</sub>) species predominated the spectral profile in the highly rigid solvent glycerol and upon loading 0.45 % (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) of the dye on plastic. The photoluminescence excitation (PLE) spectra of PCB for the second region (Q-band) at 672 nm in the same solvents confirmed the ground state heterogenicity previously associated with the presence of PCB<sub>A</sub> (neutral), PCB<sub>B</sub> (cationic), and PCB<sub>C</sub> (anionic) conformers. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) measurements induced via excitation of all PCB species at 510 nm in methanol revealed three-lifetime components with τ<sub>1</sub> = ~0.1 ns and τ<sub>2</sub> = ~2 ns associated with PCB<sub>BR</sub> species and τ<sub>3</sub> = ~5 ns pertinent to the long-living photoproduct X*. Decay-associated spectra (DAS) analysis of the photoluminescence transient spectra of the final dyed films in the solid-state confirmed the improved generation of the long-living photoproduct as manifested in a significant increase in the PL intensity (~100-fold) and lifetime value (~90 ns) in the Q-region upon loading 6.92 % (<i>w</i>/<i>w</i>) of the dye on plastic. The photoproduct species were presumably assigned to the deprotonated PCB species, suggesting improved ionic mobility. The potential implementation of the PCB-sensitized PE solid wastes for the fabrication of ionic solar cells is discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/22/4811low-density polyethylenephycocyanobilintime-resolved fluorescenceionic transport |
| spellingShingle | Maryam Alhefeiti Falguni Chandra Ravindra Kumar Gupta Na’il Saleh Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies Polymers low-density polyethylene phycocyanobilin time-resolved fluorescence ionic transport |
| title | Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies |
| title_full | Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies |
| title_fullStr | Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies |
| title_short | Dyeing Non-Recyclable Polyethylene Plastic with Photoacid Phycocyanobilin from Spirulina Algae: Ultrafast Photoluminescence Studies |
| title_sort | dyeing non recyclable polyethylene plastic with photoacid phycocyanobilin from spirulina algae ultrafast photoluminescence studies |
| topic | low-density polyethylene phycocyanobilin time-resolved fluorescence ionic transport |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/22/4811 |
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