Photochemical Electron Transfer in the System Polypyrrole-Methylene Blue

Abstract

Methylene Blue incorporated into colloidal oxidized polypyrrole was investigated by absorption spectroscopy and laser flash photolysis. The absorption spectra of Methylene Blue and polypyrrole were unaffected by incorporation. Flash photolysis transients of Methylene Blue and triplet Methylene Blue in ethanol were affected by 1,4-benzoquinone and 1,4-benzoquinol but not by the long-chain naphthoquinone Vitamin K₁. Incorporation of Methylene Blue in polypyrrole produced distinct changes in the flash photolysis transients of Methylene Blue and triplet Methylene Blue. Very long-lived transients, with lifetimes of the order of 10 ms, were observed. These effects were accompanied by long-lived changes in the absorption spectrum of Methylene Blue. The transients were modified by the addition of 1,4-benzoquinone but not 1,4-benzoquinol. The results indicate photochemical reduction of oxidized polypyrrole by triplet Methylene Blue with the production of stable long-lived species capable of reducing 1,4-benzoquinone.