Photoactive Polythiophene:Titania Hybrids with Excellent Miscibility for Use in Polymer Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

A series of poly{(3‐hexylthiophene)‐co‐[3‐(6‐hydroxyhexyl)thiophene]}:titania (P3HT‐OH:TiO2) hybrids were synthesized via the in situ polycondensation of titanium (IV) n‐butoxide in the presence of P3HT‐OH. Introducing a hydroxyl moiety onto the side‐chain of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) significantly promotes the polymer‐titania interaction, resulting in the formation of homogeneous hybrid colloids. The UV‐vis spectra of P3HT‐OH:TiO2 films demonstrate that TiO2 markedly affects the stacking structure and the chain conformation of P3HT‐OH. The maximum absorption wavelength of these hybrid materials can be tailor‐made by merely varying the weight percentage of TiO2. Moreover, P3HT‐OH:TiO2 can be further utilized as an efficient compatibilizer in preparing photoactive P3HT:P3HT‐OH:TiO2 films with excellent miscibility. The photovoltaic cell based on such a hybrid exhibited a 2.4‐fold higher value of power‐conversion efficiency compared to the cell based on P3HT:TiO2.

Stepwise Self‐Assembly of P3HT/CdSe Hybrid Nanowires with Enhanced Photoconductivity

“…In the UV-vis spectra (Figure 3a), the maximum absorption wavelength (l max ) in the range of 440-650 nm corresponds to the p-p à transition of the conjugated P3HT structure. [21,22] Compared with pristine P3HT nanowires, l max of the coaxial nanowires was red-…”

Oxide/polymer interfaces for hybrid and organic solar cells: Anatase vs. Rutile TiO2

“…The blue shift is stronger in the case of the P3HT, but smoother in the case of MEH-PPV, especially if the device is fabricated on an ITO substrate. This blue shift is characteristic of a strong TiO 2 -polymer interaction [17].…”

Structural and thermal properties of carboxylic acid functionalized polythiophenes

“…Current researches have been focused on improving the performance of polythiophene-based devices by the synthesis of new polythiophene derivatives and by the control of their regioregularity [11][12][13][14][15] . In addition, very efficient devices have also been obtained by mixing the polythiophene derivatives and electron acceptor compounds, such as titania, silica and fullerenes [16][17][18][19][20][21] . An alternative method to achieve the best mix between these materials is the introduction of polar groups in the side-chain of polythiophene derivatives, for example, hydroxyl or carboxylic acid groups [22] .…”