Abstract
A new class of pyridyl benzimdazole based Ru complex decorated polyaniline assembly (PANI-Ru) was covalently grafted onto reduced graphene oxide sheets (rGO) via covalent functionalization approach. The covalent attachment of PANI-Ru with rGO was confirmed from XPS analysis and Raman spectroscopy. The chemical bonding between PANI-Ru and rGO induced the electron transfer from Ru complex to rGO via backbone of the conjugated PANI chain. The resultant hybrid metallopolymer assembly was successfully demonstrated as an electron donor in bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (PSCs). A PSC device fabricated with rGO/PANI-Ru showed an utmost ~6 fold and 2 fold enhancement in open circuit potential (Voc) and short circuit current density (Jsc) with respect to the standard device made with PANI-Ru (i.e., without rGO) under the illumination of AM 1.5 G. The excellent electronic properties of rGO significantly improved the electron injection from PANI-Ru to PCBM and in turn the overall performance of the PSC device was enhanced. The ultrafast excited state charge separation and electron transfer role of rGO sheet in hybrid metallopolymer was confirmed from ultrafast spectroscopy measurements. This covalent modification of rGO with metallopolymer assembly may open a new strategy for the development of new hybrid nanomaterials for light harvesting applications.
Highlights
Assembly with highly conductive two-dimensional graphene support prevent the back flow of the carriers and enhance the carrier separation, electron mobility and thereby considered as a superior material for light harvesting applications[10,11]
Pyridyl benzimidazole liganded Ru complex was bonded with polyaniline (PANI) and this metallopolymer (PANI-Ru) assembly was further covalently grafted on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets through simple chemical approach
The synthesis procedure of rGO/PANI-Ru hybrid nanocomposite is illustrated in Fig. 1
Summary
Assembly with highly conductive two-dimensional graphene support prevent the back flow of the carriers and enhance the carrier separation, electron mobility and thereby considered as a superior material for light harvesting applications[10,11]. The strategy to design graphene-metallopolymer nanocomposite open up the potential platform for the development of new hybrid nanomaterials as an electron donor/acceptor for PSCs. In addition, the loading of graphene can enhance the mechanical stability of the metallopolymer moiety which is an additional benefit of using graphene as a supporting material[32]. Pyridyl benzimidazole liganded Ru complex was bonded with polyaniline (PANI) and this metallopolymer (PANI-Ru) assembly was further covalently grafted on rGO sheets through simple chemical approach This is the first report of using {2-(2-pyridyl)benzimidazole}RuCl3 based metallopolymer functionalized rGO sheets as a new class of hybrid light harvester (electron donor) for PSC. The interfacial electron transport and charge separation properties of rGO at the metallopolymer (PANI-Ru) donor/PCBM acceptor interfaces significantly improved both short circuit current density (Jsc) and open circuit potential (Voc ) of the PSC device
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