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Relating nanoscale structure to optoelectronic functionality in multiphase donor–acceptor nanoparticles for printed electronics applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 October 2020

Mohammed F. Al-Mudhaffer ,
Natalie P. Holmes ,
Pankaj Kumar ,
Matthew G. Barr ,
Sophie Cottam ,
Rafael Crovador ,
Timothy W. Jones ,
Rebecca Lim ,
Xiaojing Zhou  and
John Holdsworth
...Show all authors
Mohammed F. Al-Mudhaffer
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Natalie P. Holmes
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Pankaj Kumar
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Matthew G. Barr
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Sophie Cottam
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Rafael Crovador
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Timothy W. Jones
Affiliation:
CSIRO Energy Centre, Mayfield West, NSW 2304, Australia
Rebecca Lim
Affiliation:
School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Xiaojing Zhou
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
John Holdsworth
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Warwick J. Belcher
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Paul C. Dastoor
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Matthew J. Griffith*
Affiliation:
Centre for Organic Electronics, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
*
Address all correspondence to Matthew J. Griffith at matthew.griffith@sydney.edu.au
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Abstract

This work investigated the photophysical pathways for light absorption, charge generation, and charge separation in donor–acceptor nanoparticle blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and indene-C60-bisadduct. Optical modeling combined with steady-state and time-resolved optoelectronic characterization revealed that the nanoparticle blends experience a photocurrent limited to 60% of a bulk solution mixture. This discrepancy resulted from imperfect free charge generation inside the nanoparticles. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy and chemically resolved X-ray mapping showed that enhanced miscibility of materials did improve the donor–acceptor blending at the center of the nanoparticles; however, a residual shell of almost pure donor still restricted energy generation from these nanoparticles.

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Type
Research Letters
Information
MRS Communications , Volume 10 , Issue 4 , December 2020 , pp. 600 - 608
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020, published on behalf of Materials Research Society by Cambridge University Press

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