Synthesis and characterization of surface patterned nanoimprinted in1–xCrxP/P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposite films for solar cell application potential

Abstract

Nanoimprinted nanocomposites based on the inclusion of semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) into ferroelectric polymer matrix have shown a paramount encouragement owing to their versatile applications, such as field effect transistors, lasers, LEDs, bio‐probes, metal ion sensors, and photovoltaic devices. Here, we have developed a novel approach to fabricate nanoimprinted In1–xCrxP/P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposite films based on the nanoimprint lithography stamp technique for the first time. In1–xCrxP QDs have been prepared by colloidal technique at various contents of Cr ions from 1 at% to 9 at%. These QDs were doped into P(VDF‐TrFE). The prepared nanocomposite films were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The thermal properties were investigated by thermogravimetric and differential scanning calorimetry. The inclusion of the In1–xCrxP QDs into the P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposites resulted in an enhancement of the thermal stability, an increase of the melting temperature and decrease of the Curie temperature. The nanoimprinted In0.91Cr0.09P/P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposite film showed high photocurrent response. The generated electromotive force, emf, in the nanoimprinted films was five times greater than the flat deposited film. Therefore, the developed surface pattern nanocomposite film based on In1–xCrxP/P(VDF‐TrFE) nanocomposite will open a new avenue for the flexible solar cell application potential. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E136–E145, 2019. © 2017 Society of Plastics Engineers