Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites
Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most attractive polymeric donor materials used in organic solar cells because of its high electrical conductivity and solubility in various solvents. However, its carrier mobility is low when compared to that of inorganic semiconductors; hence, the incorpo...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-04-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1828 |
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| author | Lara Velasco Davoise Rafael Peña Capilla Ana M. Díez-Pascual |
| author_facet | Lara Velasco Davoise Rafael Peña Capilla Ana M. Díez-Pascual |
| author_sort | Lara Velasco Davoise |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most attractive polymeric donor materials used in organic solar cells because of its high electrical conductivity and solubility in various solvents. However, its carrier mobility is low when compared to that of inorganic semiconductors; hence, the incorporation of appropriate nanomaterials to improve its electrical mobility and optical properties are pursued. In this work, a review of the changes in electrical conductivity, bandgap, hole collection properties and carrier mobility of P3HT when adding graphene (G) is presented. The main aim is to assess how the addition of different G contents influences the optical constants: refractive index (<i>n</i>) and extinction coefficient (<i>k</i>). The values of <i>n</i> and <i>k</i> as a function of the wavelength for six P3HT/G nanocomposites with G loadings in the range of 0.1–5 wt% have been fitted to two different models, Forouhi Bloomer and Cauchy, showing very good agreement between the experimental and the theoretical values. Furthermore, a rule of mixtures was successfully applied to calculate n using mass fraction instead of volume fraction, with errors lower than 6% for all the nanocomposites studied. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f20f53925bde4329a9405f44a890e462 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:47:23Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-f20f53925bde4329a9405f44a890e4622023-11-23T09:06:53ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602022-04-01149182810.3390/polym14091828Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) NanocompositesLara Velasco Davoise0Rafael Peña Capilla1Ana M. Díez-Pascual2Universidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, Km. 33.6, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, SpainUniversidad de Alcalá, Departamento de Teoría de la Señal y Comunicaciones, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, Km. 33.6, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, SpainUniversidad de Alcalá, Facultad de Ciencias, Departamento de Química Analítica, Química Física e Ingeniería Química, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona, Km. 33.6, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, SpainPoly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is one of the most attractive polymeric donor materials used in organic solar cells because of its high electrical conductivity and solubility in various solvents. However, its carrier mobility is low when compared to that of inorganic semiconductors; hence, the incorporation of appropriate nanomaterials to improve its electrical mobility and optical properties are pursued. In this work, a review of the changes in electrical conductivity, bandgap, hole collection properties and carrier mobility of P3HT when adding graphene (G) is presented. The main aim is to assess how the addition of different G contents influences the optical constants: refractive index (<i>n</i>) and extinction coefficient (<i>k</i>). The values of <i>n</i> and <i>k</i> as a function of the wavelength for six P3HT/G nanocomposites with G loadings in the range of 0.1–5 wt% have been fitted to two different models, Forouhi Bloomer and Cauchy, showing very good agreement between the experimental and the theoretical values. Furthermore, a rule of mixtures was successfully applied to calculate n using mass fraction instead of volume fraction, with errors lower than 6% for all the nanocomposites studied.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1828nanocompositerefractive indexextinction coefficientgraphene |
| spellingShingle | Lara Velasco Davoise Rafael Peña Capilla Ana M. Díez-Pascual Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites Polymers nanocomposite refractive index extinction coefficient graphene |
| title | Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites |
| title_full | Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites |
| title_short | Assessment of the Refractive Index and Extinction Coefficient of Graphene-Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanocomposites |
| title_sort | assessment of the refractive index and extinction coefficient of graphene poly 3 hexylthiophene nanocomposites |
| topic | nanocomposite refractive index extinction coefficient graphene |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/14/9/1828 |
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