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Absorption properties enhancement using Montmorillonite (MMT) as filler in spray-coated P3HT:PCBM thin films

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Abstract

This paper has investigated the effects of montmorillonite (MMT) as filler and post treatment in optical properties of bulk heterojunction P3HT:PCBM thin films. Annealing temperatures varied from 130 to 150 °C while annealing time was kept constant for 10 min. The absorption data has shown an increment in peak absorption at around 602 nm, suggesting that the addition of MMT improved the degree of crystallinity of P3HT. The addition of MMT exhibited absorption in the infrared region, suggesting that MMT improved the optical properties of the thin films. The post treatment effects have shown interesting results, with 130 °C demonstrating the highest degree of PL quenching with acceptable light absorption.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) Malaysia under Grant No. R.J130000.7942.4S057 and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Advanced Membrane Technology Research Centre (AMTEC), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    F. Aziz & A. F. Ismail

  2. Faculty of Petroleum and Renewable Energy Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, UTM, 81310, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia

    F. Aziz & A. F. Ismail

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  1. F. Aziz
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  2. A. F. Ismail
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Correspondence to A. F. Ismail.

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Aziz, F., Ismail, A.F. Absorption properties enhancement using Montmorillonite (MMT) as filler in spray-coated P3HT:PCBM thin films. Polym. Bull. 72, 1827–1834 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1374-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-015-1374-8

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