Polymer crystallization as a tool to pattern hybrid nanostructures: Growth of 12 nm ZnO arrays in poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Reza Saberi Moghaddam - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Sven Huettner - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Yana Vaynzof - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Caterina Ducati - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Giorgio Divitini - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Ruth H. Lohwasser - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Kevin P. Musselman - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Alessandro Sepe - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Maik R.J. Scherer - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Mukundan Thelakkat - , University of Bayreuth (Author)
  • Ullrich Steiner - , University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Richard H. Friend - , University of Cambridge (Author)

Abstract

Well-ordered hybrid materials with a 10 nm length scale are highly desired. We make use of the natural length scale (typically 10-15 nm) of the alternating crystalline and amorphous layers that are generally found in semicrystalline polymers to direct the growth of a semiconducting metal oxide. This approach is exemplified with the growth of ZnO within a carboxylic acid end-functionalized poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT-COOH). The metal-oxide precursor vapors diffuse into the amorphous parts of the semicrystalline polymer so that sheets of ZnO up to 0.5 μm in size can be grown. This P3HT-ZnO nanostructure further functions as a donor-acceptor photovoltaic system, with length scales appropriate for charge photogeneration.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4499-4504
Number of pages6
JournalNano letters
Volume13
Issue number9
Publication statusPublished - 11 Sept 2013
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • atomic layer deposition, Hybrid nanostructures, P3HT-ZnO, poly(3-hexylthiophene), zinc oxid