Synthesis of thiol modified CdSe nanoparticles/P3HT blends for hybrid solar cell structures

Thioglycolic acid (TGA) capped cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles were synthesised in aqueous medium through wet chemical method using sodium selenite as the selenium source. The synthesised particles were transformed into organic medium using 1-dodecanethiol through efficient partial ligand exchange strategy. The UV–visible spectra recorded for the particles reveal the size distribution in water as well as in organic solvent. TEM analysis of the synthesised particles shows the size and the nature of distribution of the particles in solution. The phase transferred particles were blended with the polymer poly-3-hexyl thiophene (P3HT) in chloroform. UV–visible and photoluminescence spectra of the polymer with various volumes of the nanoparticles clearly indicate the effective coupling and the efficient charge transfer process in the blend. SEM analysis of the CdSe–P3HT blends confirms the effective distribution of the nanoparticles in the polymeric matrix. AFM studies reveal the morphology of the nanoparticles and the phase separation process in the blends.