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Effect of surface treatment on the photovoltaic properties of titania nanorods and MEHPPV nanocomposites

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Abstract

In this work, anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods (NRs) were synthesized by low-temperature hydrolysis of titanium tetraisopropoxide (TTIP) and using oleic acid (OA) as capping agent. The OA-capped titania NRs were then processed using surface ligand exchange by pyridine (Py). The two types of NRs, with different capping agents hence obtained, were blended with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-l,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEHPPV) to prepare hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposites. In order to elucidate the changes caused by the surface modifications, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and X-ray diffraction were used to study the morphology. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirms that the ligands coordinated with the Ti center of TiO2 NRs. The optical properties of the modified TiO2 NRs are characterized by UV–Vis absorption spectra and photoluminescence (PL) spectra. Photoluminescence lifetime studies were conducted to predict the capping agent more suitable for photovoltaic applications.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gautam Buddha University, Yamuna Expressway, Greater Noida, 201308, India

    Tanvi Vats

  2. National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K.S. Krishnan Marg, New Delhi, 110012, India

    Sumit Kumar & Kiran Jain

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  1. Tanvi Vats
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  2. Sumit Kumar
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  3. Kiran Jain
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Correspondence to Tanvi Vats.

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Vats, T., Kumar, S. & Jain, K. Effect of surface treatment on the photovoltaic properties of titania nanorods and MEHPPV nanocomposites. Colloid Polym Sci 292, 3025–3031 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3356-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-014-3356-z

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