Functional Templates for Hybrid Materials with Orthogonal Functionality

Abstract

We demonstrate an integrated approach to prepare a nanostructured, multifunctional material with mutually exclusive, orthogonal properties. The hybrid material was obtained within a single step via self-assembly in solution. It consists of TiO(2) as a functional metal oxide and an amphiphilic block copolymer, poly(ethylene oxide)-b-poly(triphenylamine) (PEO-PTPA). Within the materials' synthesis, the block copolymer not only acts as a templating agent but also adds an electronic functionality to the resulting hybrid material. During the synthesis, a variety of self-assembled morphologies, ranging from spheres to wires, can be created. The obtained morphology depends on the weight fraction of the polymer, solvent, TiO(2), and acid (HNO(3)). When films on silicon wafers are studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), a ternary phase diagram could be mapped, whereas the crystallinity of TiO(2) could be proved by high-resolution TEM. Different morphologies of this self-assembled hybrid material were tested for solar cell application. Even for devices with layer thicknesses of the active material below 10 nm, power conversion efficiencies up to 0.15% at 1 sun and 1.5 AM were observed.

All-inorganic core–shell silica–titania mesoporous colloidal nanoparticles showing orthogonal functionality

“…5,6 By using different functional groups, even nanoparticles with site-specific orthogonal functionality can be obtained. 7 In most cases, however, this extended functionality comes at the cost of limited thermal or chemical stability.…”

Time-Resolved Ultrathin Cobalt Film Growth on a Colloidal Polymer Template

“…Recently, new applications for metallized polymer films and membranes have emerged in the field of organic electronics with the realization of organic transistors 1,2 and organic solar cells, [3][4][5] or in the field of hybrid sensors with the development of functional polymer-metal nanocomposite films 6 and the development of membranes for high flux gas transport. 7 Therefore, much effort has been put into better understanding of the growth process and structural transition of nanocomposites.…”

Comparison of Hybrid Blends for Solar Cell Application

“…An explanation might be a mismatch of the energy levels between the P3HT and PEDOT:PSS. In literature the donor material P3HT as well as PEDOT:PSS are cited with an HOMO of 5.2 eV [14,15].…”