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

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Abstract

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.

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Notes

  1. Although light scattering may in general display a dependence on the wavelength λ, our analysis considers that in our type of films light scattering is mainly resulting from wavelength-independent light diffusion. Our approach has the merit of being very simple and of easy application, which is not the case of more complex scattering calculations based on Mie theory. Our approximation is justified by the fact that a reasonable description of our spectral data is attained, in combination with the fact that the morphological parameters obtained from our optical data analysis and the parameters obtained from the other techniques applied in the study agree reasonably well.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by FCT/I3N via the HybridSolar project, by the DFG via Teilprojekt B2 and by the European Union and the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Research of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia in the framework of an Objective 2 Programme (European Regional Development Fund, ERDF). Funding is also acknowledged from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Projects Nos. PTDC/FIS/112885/2009 and PEst-C/CTM/LA0025/2011 and via the Strategic Project LA 25:2011-2012.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics and Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal

    F. D. Rodrigues, L. Rino, M. R. Correia & R. N. Pereira

  2. Institute for Polymers and Composites and Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication, University of Minho, Campus de Azurém, 4800-058, Guimarães, Portugal

    M. Cunha, L. Hilliou & G. Bernardo

  3. Cenimat, Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication, Departamento de Ciência dos Materiais, Center of Excellence in Microelectronics Optoelectronics and Processes—Uninova, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal

    T. Busani & S. A. Filonovich

  4. Institut für Verbrennung und Gasdynamik and Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen, Universität Duisburg-Essen, 47048, Duisburg, Germany

    H. Wiggers

Authors
  1. F. D. Rodrigues
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  2. M. Cunha
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  3. L. Hilliou
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  4. L. Rino
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  5. M. R. Correia
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  6. T. Busani
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  7. G. Bernardo
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  8. H. Wiggers
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  9. S. A. Filonovich
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  10. R. N. Pereira
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Correspondence to R. N. Pereira.

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Rodrigues, F.D., Cunha, M., Hilliou, L. et al. Impact of composition and morphology on the optical properties of Si-NC/P3HT thin films processed from solution. Appl. Phys. A 113, 439–446 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7540-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-012-7540-z

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