The optoelectronic properties and applications of solution-processable titanium oxide nanoparticles

• The surface modified TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared.
• The TiO2 was applied for encapsulant and electron collection layer.
• The refractive index of silicone based encapsulant can be enhanced.
• The organic solar cells reveal better reliability with the modified TiO2.

In this study, the surface modified TiO2 nanoparticles have been prepared through microwave-assisted reaction with oleic acid as surfactant. The as-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles reveal uniform particle size distribution and high dispersibility in organic solvents which can be easily integrated into solution-process. The organic capped TiO2 (OC-TiO2) has been applied as filler for LED encapsulant and electron collection layer for organic solar cells. With 1.0 wt% loading of TiO2 nanoparticles, the refractive index (RI) of TiO2/silicone composites increase from 1.51 for neat silicone to 1.575. As a result, a high-power LED encapsulated with this composite showed more than 9% increase in the light output. Moreover, the organic solar cell with the OC-TiO2 as electron collection layer shows an enhanced long-term durability due to the hydrophobic property of OC-TiO2.

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