In-situ growth of CdSe-P3HT nanocomposites

Introduction CdSe-P3HT (poly(3-hexylthiophene))) nanocomposites are studied for their application in hybrid solar cells. Semiconductor inorganic/organic hybrid solar cells offer many advantages relative to their non-hybrid counterparts. They have the advantages of conjugated polymers such as light weight, flexibility, abundance of resources, the potential for roll-to-roll and non-vacuum processing, and low cost when compared to conventional inorganic solar cells. Also, they have favorable properties of inorganic, semiconducting nanocrystals. Nanocrystals such as CdSe have high electron mobility (compared to an organic acceptor molecule such as PCBM), tunable optical properties, and physical and chemical stability. In the past, inorganic/organic hybrid solar cells were typically made with physical mixtures of a conjugated polymer such as P3HT and nanocrystals. This research is focused on one method of chemically tethering P3HT to the nanocrystals, which through better contact allows better mobility of charge carriers. Experimental Methods In situ growth of CdSe nanoparticles in P3HT is a relatively simple and elegant way to produce nanocomposites of P3HT and CdSe where P3HT is chemically tethered to the surface of the CdSe nanocrystals. First Cd-BPA-P3HT is synthesized via a click reaction. The click reaction is highly selective, high yield (usually above 95%), and stable.1 The intimate contact made between the polymer and the nanoparticle result in very high electron mobility as compared to other methods of bringing P3HT into contact with CdSe nanoparticles.