We are exploring mechanochemical routes to fabricate solar heterojunction films based on polyaniline/Laponite/coordination polymer nanoassemblies. Polyaniline in its emeraldine salt form serves as an electron conductor while polythiophene serves as a hole conductor in these solar heterojunctions. Laponite clay nanoparticles are used as a nanoscaffold to direct the self-assembly of the polymer networks and improve water processability of films. We have employed dicyanoaurate coordination polymer (CP) networks to improve the polydispersity of CdSe semiconductor nanocrystals and to optimize charge transport. The Au CP networks act as an intercalative backbone to link CdSe nanoparticles with conductive polymer arrays. We have investigated various synthetic routes and film processing methods and examined their effects on film quality and surface morphology in these tricontinuous polymer heterojunctions. Scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and UV-visible spectroscopy were used to verify syntheses and to study the heterointerfaces that control self-assembly, exciton formation, charge separation, charge transport, and photoefficiency.

Polyaniline/laponite/gold coordination polymer nanoassemblies for solar applications

249th National Meeting (2015)

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