In situ fabrication of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/ZnO hybrid nanowires with D/A parallel-lane structure and their application in photovoltaic devices
Journal
Macromolecules
Journal Volume
47
Journal Issue
16
Pages
5551-5557
Date Issued
2014
Author(s)
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate a facile in situ synthetic strategy to fabricate self-assembled organic/inorganic hybrid nanowires, wherein a "pre-crystallization" approach was first utilized to co-organize P3HT molecules and zinc precursors into highly elongated nanowires, followed by a thermal oxidation treatment to directly grow ZnO nanocrystals on the existing nanofibrillar template. By further thermal annealing the ZnO embossed hybrid nanowires, a unique superhighway-like architecture which composed of alternating parallel channels of P3HT nanofibrils and ZnO nanocrystals could be further obtained. This donor/acceptor (D/A) parallel-channel structure gave access to the improvements in the exciton dissociation and charge transport, thereby enhancing photoluminescence quenching, charge transport, and device performance. The photovoltaic devices with the D/A parallel-lane structure gave a high PCE of 0.61% as compared to only 0.07% from a conventional P3HT/ZnO bulk heterojuction solar cell. Our approach offers a versatile route to coassemble inorganic nanocrystals with -conjugated polymer hosts, forming uniform one-dimensional hybrid nanochannels potentially useful in optoelectronic applications. © 2014 American Chemical Society.
SDGs
Other Subjects
Carrier transport; Conjugated polymers; Fabrication; II-VI semiconductors; Nanocrystals; Nanowires; Oxide minerals; Solar power generation; Thermooxidation; Zinc oxide; Exciton dissociation; Inorganic nanocrystals; Optoelectronic applications; Organic/Inorganic hybrids; Photoluminescence quenching; Photovoltaic devices; Poly (3-hexylthiophene); Synthetic strategies; Solar cells
Type
journal article