Abstract
Nanocomposites of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-CNTs) have been synthesized by two methods; specifically, direct solution mixing and in situ polymerization. The nanocomposites were characterized by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray dispersive spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectrophotometry, photoluminescence spectrophotometry (PL), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dispersive surface energy analysis. The nanocomposites were used in the active layer of a bulk heterojunction organic solar cell with the composition ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:N-CNTS:PCBM/LiF/Al. TEM and SEM analysis showed that the polymer successfully wrapped the N-CNTs. FTIR results indicated good π-π interaction within the nanocomposite synthesized by in situ polymerization as opposed to samples made by direct solution mixing. Dispersive surface energies of the N-CNTs and nanocomposites supported the fact that polymer covered the N-CNTs well. J-V analysis show that good devices were formed from the two nanocomposites, however, the in situ polymerization nanocomposite showed better photovoltaic characteristics.
Highlights
IntroductionThe electrical conductivity of a linear chain organic polymer (polyacetylene) was first discovered by Shirikawa et al in 1977 [1]
The electrical conductivity of a linear chain organic polymer was first discovered by Shirikawa et al in 1977 [1]
We report on a unique characterization technique whereby dispersive surface energy was used to determine how effective the polymer wrapped/covered the walls of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (N-carbon nanotubes (CNT))
Summary
The electrical conductivity of a linear chain organic polymer (polyacetylene) was first discovered by Shirikawa et al in 1977 [1]. Jun et al [24] fabricated a solar cell with CNTs functionalized with alkyl-amides in an active layer of P3HT:PCBM The efficiency of this device increased by 30% from 3.2% to 4.4% compared with a device without CNTs. The efficiency of this device increased by 30% from 3.2% to 4.4% compared with a device without CNTs They attributed this increase to wide band absorption, high charge carrier mobility and improved dispersion in the polymer matrix. The two techniques compared are: oxidative in situ polymerization, and direct solution mixing of P3HT and N-CNTs. We report on a unique characterization technique whereby dispersive surface energy was used to determine how effective the polymer wrapped/covered the walls of N-CNTs. the results on the use of nanocomposites in the active layer of organic solar cells (OSC) is presented and discussed
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