Prolonging charge separation in P3HT-SWNT composites using highly enriched semiconducting nanotubes.

Holt, Josh M; Ferguson, Andrew J; Kopidakis, Nikos; Larsen, Brian A; Bult, Justin; Rumbles, Garry; Blackburn, Jeffrey L · Nano Lett · 2010

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) have potential as electron acceptors in organic photovoltaics (OPVs), but the currently low-power conversion efficiencies of devices remain largely unexplained. We demonstrate effective redispersion of isolated, highly enriched semiconducting and metallic SWNTs into poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). We use these enriched blends to provide the first experimental evidence of the negative impact of metallic nanotubes. Time-resolved microwave conductivity reveals that the long-lived carrier population can be significantly increased by incorporating highly enriched semiconducting SWNTs into semiconducting polymer composites.

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