Impact of composition and morphology on the optical properties of Si-NC/P3HT thin films processed from solution

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Vol. 113; no. 2; pp. 439 - 446
• Main Authors: Rodrigues, F. D., Cunha, M., Hilliou, L., Rino, L., Correia, M. R., Busani, T., Bernardo, G., Wiggers, H., Filonovich, S. A., Pereira, R. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-11-2013; Springer
• Subjects: Blends; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Mathematical models; Morphology; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanocrystals and nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of low-dimensional, mesoscopic, and nanoscale materials and structures; Organic semiconductors; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Polymer blends; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Hybrid Film; Optical Spectrum; Chloroform Solution; Dichlorobenzene; Simple Phenomenological Model; Elemental semiconductors; Material processing; Nanostructures; Thin films; Phenomenological model; Composite materials; Thiophene derivative polymer; Optical properties; Organic semiconductors; Silicon; Light absorption; Microstructure; Nanostructured materials; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-012-7540-z

Blends of Si nanocrystals (Si-NCs) and organic semiconductors are promising materials for new optical and electronic devices processed from solutions. Here, we study how the optical properties of composite films containing Si-NCs and the organic semiconductor poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) are influenced by the composition and morphology resulting from different solution-processing parameters and different solvents used dichlorobenzene vs. chloroform). The optical spectra of the hybrid films are described using a simple phenomenological model, with which we can discern the contribution of each material in the films to the optical properties. From this analysis, we obtain quantitative information about the composition and morphology of the hybrid nanostructured films, which otherwise would be obtained from more demanding microscopy and spectroscopy techniques. For the case of the Si-NC/P3HT blend, we find that in films deposited from dichlorobenzene solutions the Si-NCs contribute sizably to light absorption.