Photocatalytic synthesis of silver dendrites using electrostatic hybrid films of porphyrin–polyoxometalate Original Research Article

Films based on electrostatic interactions between tetracationic porphyrin, 5,10,15,20-(4-trimethylammoniophenyl) porphyrin tetra(p-toluenesulfonate), [H2TPhN(Me)3P]4+ and Dawson type polyoxometalate α2-[Fe(P2W17O61)]7− (POM) are formed by the so called layer-by-layer self-assembly method. Successive deposition of layers has been monitored by UV–visible absorption spectroscopy. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used to explore the morphology and composition, respectively. Electrochemistry and permeability studies have been carried out by cyclic voltammetry.