Improvement of photoelectrochemical and optical characteristics of MEH-PPV using titanium dioxide nanoparticles

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing 2013-06, Vol.16 (3), p.727-731
• Main Authors: Habelhames, Farid, Lamiri, Leila, Zerguine, Wided, Nessark, Belkacem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Compound structure devices; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Devices; Electron states; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; Excitons and related phenomena; Heterojunctions; Indium tin oxide; Materials science; MEH-PPV; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Nanopowders; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Optical constants: refractive index, complex dielectric constant, absorption, reflection and transmission coefficients, emissivity; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Organic–inorganic compounds; Photoelectrochemical properties; Physics; Roughness; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Semiconductors; Spin coating; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2012.12.015

The use of bulk heterojunctions can increase the efficiency of exciton dissociation in polymer-based photovoltaics. We prepared and characterized bulk heterojunctions of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles deposited by spin coating on indium tin oxide substrates. The surface morphology of the MEH-PPV+TiO2 composite films revealed that addition of TiO2 nanoparticles increased the film roughness. The effect of TiO2 nanoparticles on the photoelectrochemical and optical characteristics of MEH-PPV polymer heterojunctions was studied. Addition of TiO2 nanoparticles improved the absorbance of MEH-PPV composite films. Moreover, the photocurrent of the composite devices increased with the TiO2 nanoparticle concentration. These observations provide an insight into new approaches to improve the light collection efficiency in photoconductive polymers.