In Situ Fabrication of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)/ZnO Hybrid Nanowires with D/A Parallel-Lane Structure and Their Application in Photovoltaic Devices

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 π-conjugated polymer hosts, forming uniform one-dimensional hybrid nanochannels potentially useful in optoelectronic applications.

An Inorganic/Organic S‐Scheme Heterojunction H2‐Production Photocatalyst and its Charge Transfer Mechanism

“…Therefore, one can rationally propose that photoinduced annealing occurred in CP2 composite during the photocatalytic process, [ 18 ] resulting in self‐organization of the conjugated polymer as well as reorganization of the inorganic nanocrystal/polymer interface. [ 19 ] Clearly, the introduction of conjugated polymer PT can effectively enhance photostability of CdS nanocrystals. To elucidate the essence for the above‐discussed performance enhancement of CP composite, we further measured the time‐resolved photoluminescence (TRPL, Figure a) of the typical samples.…”

Embossed Hybrid Synthesis of ZnO Nanocrystals on Self‐Organized One‐Dimensional Poly(3‐butylthiophene) Nanowires

“…These disadvantages can be overcome by adopting in situ fabrication of inorganic semiconductor within organic polymer material . In this methodology, π‐conjugated polymer such as P3HT offers a combining response since it encompasses an electron giving sulfur at its monomer unit, a potential harbor site for chelating metal ions . The planar conformation of P3HT can further offer a flat molecular architecture to efficiently induce the growth of inorganic nanocrystals within the polymer matrix.…”

Synergistic In Situ Hybrid Synthesis of Highly Crystalline P3HT/ZnO Nanowires at Elevated Pressures

“…Previously, we have demonstrated that long-range ordered D/A parallel-lanes of P3HT/ZnO hybrid nanowires can be synthesized by using a thermal oxidation method at ambient pressure . The formation of such one-dimensional (1-D) nanowires with an exceedingly large aspect ratio is beneficial for optoelectronic applications owing to the hybrid structures possibly displaying a much better exciton separation rate and improved photoconductive feedback in a BHJ .…”