The study of semiconductors has gained great interest over the past decade in the attempt of finding a clean and efficient alternative energy source. The conversion of solar energy into electricity can be achieved through the construction of solar cells, with semiconductors being the foundation of their operation. This project focused on combining synthesized CdSe nanoparticles with poly(o-methoxyaniline) in efforts to analyze the stability and efficiency of the semiconductor hybrid. The intention was to prevent photo-degradation resulting from exposure to light, which is evident with CdSe by itself in aqueous solution. Three possible composites were studied that varied in the order of their component depositions: (1) CdSe before POMA (CdSe/POMA), (2) POMA before CdSe (POMA/CdSe), and CdSe and POMA simultaneously (CdSe+POMA). The deposition of CdSe and POMA was performed through electrochemical cycling onto highly organized pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). The deposition of CdSe was conducted in a solution of 5 mM CdSO4 and 1 mM SeO2 in 0.1 M HClO4 for 20 cycles. The polymerization of POMA was performed in 60 mM o-anisidine in 0.1 M HClO4 for 5 cycles. The co-deposition of CdSe+POMA was accomplished in a combined solution of 5 mM CdSO4 + 1 mM SeO2 and 60 mM o-anisidine for 20 cycles. The photoelectrochemical studies involved cyclic voltammetry, open circuit potentiometry and chronoamperometry performed in 0.1 M Na2SO3. The hybrid composite of CdSe/POMA exhibited the highest photo-potential (320 mV) and the highest photo-current density (242 μA/cm2). The other two composites proved to be less stable and less photo-active as significantly smaller photo-potentials and photo-current densities were observed for the POMA/CdSe (30 mV, 1.84 μA/cm2) and CdSe+POMA (14 mV, 0.80 μA/cm2). The surface morphology and composition were further investigated for the three composites before and after photo-studies using X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Degradation was more pronounced for the composites POMA/CdSe and CdSe+POMA, suggesting that POMA deposited above layers of CdSe is critical in reducing degradation following exposure to light.

Semiconductor hybrids of CdSe and POMA on HOPG: Photoelectrochemical and surface analysis

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.