Solution-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material based on P3HT and SnS2 nanoparticles layers: Synthesis and properties

Abstract

Sn-based nanocomposites attract extensive attention as a new generation of photoelectric hybrid materials due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency. In this work we synthesized SnS2 nanoparticles by a hydrothermal method employing citric acid (capping agent) and performed a capping agent exchange by pyridine to improve their solution processing and final properties. We fabricated layers with pyridine-capped nanoparticles and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), employing the classical partial film sequence of a solar cell (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:Nps). We found a “coupling" between the nanoparticles and the polymer and highly ordered structures within the layers. The addition of nanoparticles improved the UV–vis absorption of P3HT and allowed the exploitation of the photoluminescence emission to promote extra charge carrier generation. Moreover, we found that SnS2_py nanoparticles form a nanoscopic mixture with the P3HT. Our pyridine-capped SnS2 nanoparticles are good candidates for fabricating hybrid materials, employing P3HT as the organic compound for application in polymeric-inorganic solar cells.