Electrochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Nanostructures for Photovolatics

Hybrid nanostructures based photovoltaics have gained interest in the recent years because of the ability to enhance the energy conversion efficiency in cost-effective matter. In this work, conducting polymers (i.e. PEDOT:PSS, P3HT) and II-VI semiconducting (i.e. CdTe) nanoparticles coated carbon nanotube(CNT) networks were electrochemically synthesized. The coating thickness, size and number of nanoparticles, and composition were preciously controlled by adjusting electrodeposition conditions including applied charge and potential. Their electrical and optoelectronic properties were systematically investigated to determine optimum conditions. The field effect transistor characteristics and photocurrent response of CdTe nanoparticles decorated SWNTs were strongly depended on the content of semiconducting SWNTs compared to metallic SWNTs and number of CdTe nanoparticles. Similar to CdTe, electronic and optoelectronic properties of PEDOT:PSS coated CNTs were characterized and optimized to enhance the properties.