RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article T1 Optical, morphological and photocatalytic properties of biobased tractable films of chitosan/donor-acceptor polymer blends A1 Jessop, I. A1 Albornoz, J. A1 Ramírez, O. A1 Durán, B. A1 Molero, L. A1 Bonardd, S. A1 Kortaberria, G. A1 Diaz Diaz, David A1 Leiva, A. A1 Saldías, César K1 Biobased tractable films K1 Photoactivity K1 Photodegradation K1 Fotoactividad K1 Fotodegradación AB Biobased tractable films consisting of blends of chitosan (CS) with polymer bearing carbazole derivatives aspendant groups and fluorene-thiophene as donor-acceptor units (referred to as DA) were prepared, and theiroptical, morphological and photocatalytic properties were studied. DA was dissolved in tetrahydrofuran (THF)and mixed with an acidified aqueous solution containing chitosan to obtain chitosan/DA (CS/DA) films bysolution casting. The fabricated biobased films were characterized using spectroscopic techniques (FT-IR andUV–vis), thermogravimetry, mechanical assays, contact angle analysis, and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Theeffects of varying DA compositions and the results of exposure to visible-light irradiation of the films were alsoanalyzed. The results indicated the existence of interactions between chitosan and DA and a potentially profitablelight-driven response of these biobased films. This behavior was reflected in the optical, topographical,and contact angle properties of the films, which exhibited different characteristics before and after visible-lightexposure. Finally, the photocatalytic performance of the biobased films was tested via the decomposition ofmethyl orange (MO), as a reaction model system. Our results revealed a significant photocatalytic activity(according to biobased film composition, approximately 64 % and 87 % of methyl orange were degraded undercontinuous visible-light irradiation for 120 min) of the films which is attributed to the combined presence andsynergetic effects of the film-forming ability of chitosan and the photoproperties of DA. PB Elsevier YR 2020 FD 2020 LK http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/21332 UL http://riull.ull.es/xmlui/handle/915/21332 LA en DS Repositorio institucional de la Universidad de La Laguna RD 28-nov-2024