University of Sussex
Browse
AdvFunctMater_Submitted version for up-load.pdf (8.76 MB)

Conjugated polymer nanoparticle-graphene oxide charge-transfer complexes

Download (8.76 MB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-09, 12:57 authored by Emin Istif, Javier Hernández-Ferrer, Esteban P Urriolabeitia, Anastasios Stergiou, Nikos Tagmatarchis, Giuseppe Fratta, Matthew LargeMatthew Large, Alan DaltonAlan Dalton, Ana M Benito, Wolfgang K Maser
The game-changing role of graphene oxide (GO) in tuning the excitonic behavior of conjugated polymer nanoparticles is described for the first time. This is demonstrated by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as a benchmark conjugated polymer and employing an in situ reprecipitation approach resulting in P3HT nanoparticles (P3HTNPs) with sizes of 50–100 nm in intimate contact with GO. During the self-assembly process, GO changes the crystalline packing of P3HT chains in the forming P3HTNPs from H to H/J aggregates exhibiting exciton coupling constants as low as 2 meV, indicating favorable charge separation along the P3HT chains. Concomitantly, p–p interface interactions between the P3HTNPs and GO sheets are established resulting in the creation of P3HTNPs–GO charge-transfer complexes whose energy bandgaps are lowered by up to 0.5 eV. Moreover, their optoelectronic properties, preestablished in the liquid phase, are retained when processed into thin films from the stable aqueous dispersions, thus eliminating the critical dependency on external processing parameters. These results can be transferred to other types of conjugated polymers. Combined with the possibility of employing water based “green” processing technologies, charge-transfer complexes of conjugated polymer nanoparticles and GO open new pathways for the fabrication of improved optoelectronic thin film devices.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Accepted version

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials

ISSN

1616-301X

Publisher

Wiley

Issue

23

Volume

28

Page range

1707548 1-10

Department affiliated with

  • Physics and Astronomy Publications

Research groups affiliated with

  • Materials Physics Group Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2018-04-19

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2019-04-17

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2018-04-19

Usage metrics

    University of Sussex (Publications)

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC