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Uvarov MN, Kobeleva ES, Degtyarenko KM, Zinovyev VA, Popov AA, Mostovich EA, Kulik LV. Fast Recombination of Charge-Transfer State in Organic Photovoltaic Composite of P3HT and Semiconducting Carbon Nanotubes Is the Reason for Its Poor Photovoltaic Performance. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24044098. [PMID: 36835508 PMCID: PMC9961616 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24044098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the photovoltaic performance of the composite of poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT) with semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (s-SWCNT) is promising, the short-circuit current density jSC is much lower than that for typical polymer/fullerene composites. Out-of-phase electron spin echo (ESE) technique with laser excitation of the P3HT/s-SWCNT composite was used to clarify the origin of the poor photogeneration of free charges. The appearance of out-of-phase ESE signal is a solid proof that the charge-transfer state of P3HT+/s-SWCNT- is formed upon photoexcitation and the electron spins of P3HT+ and s-SWCNT- are correlated. No out-of-phase ESE signal was detected in the same experiment with pristine P3HT film. The out-of-phase ESE envelope modulation trace for P3HT/s-SWCNT composite was close to that for the polymer/fullerene photovoltaic composite PCDTBT/PC70BM, which implies a similar distance of initial charge separation in the range 2-4 nm. However, out-of-phase ESE signal decay with delay after laser flash increase for P3HT/s-SWCNT composite was much faster, with a characteristic time of 10 µs at 30 K. This points to the higher geminate recombination rate for the P3HT/s-SWCNT composite, which may be one of the reasons for the relatively poor photovoltaic performance of this system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail N. Uvarov
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Elena S. Kobeleva
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Vladimir A. Zinovyev
- Rzhanov Institute of Semiconductor Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander A. Popov
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics of the Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Evgeny A. Mostovich
- Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics of the Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Leonid V. Kulik
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Correspondence:
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2
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Xie RF, Zhang JB, Wu Y, Li L, Liu XY, Cui G. Non-negligible roles of charge transfer excitons in ultrafast excitation energy transfer dynamics of a double-walled carbon nanotube. J Chem Phys 2023; 158:054108. [PMID: 36754819 DOI: 10.1063/5.0134353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein, we employed a developed linear response time dependent density functional theory-based nonadiabatic dynamics simulation method that explicitly takes into account the excitonic effects to investigate photoinduced excitation energy transfer dynamics of a double-walled carbon nanotube (CNT) model with different excitation energies. The E11 excitation of the outer CNT will generate a local excitation (LE) |out*〉 exciton due to its low energy, which does not induce any charge separation. In contrast, the E11 excitation of the inner CNT can generate four kinds of excitons with the LE exciton |in*〉 dominates. In the 500-fs dynamics simulation, the LE exciton |in*〉 and charge transfer (CT) excitons |out-in+〉 and |out+in-〉 are all gradually converted to the |out*〉 exciton, corresponding to a photoinduced excitation energy transfer, which is consistent with experimental studies. Finally, when the excitation energy is close to the E22 state of the outer CNT (∼1.05 eV), a mixed population of different excitons, with the |out*〉 exciton dominated, is generated. Then, photoinduced energy transfer from the outer to inner CNTs occurs in the first 50 fs, which is followed by an inner to outer excitation energy transfer that is completed in 400 fs. The present work not only sheds important light on the mechanistic details of wavelength-dependent excitation energy transfer of a double-walled CNT model but also demonstrates the roles and importance of CT excitons in photoinduced excitation energy transfer. It also emphasized that explicitly including the excitonic effects in electronic structure calculations and nonadiabatic dynamics simulations is significant for correct understanding/rational design of optoelectronic properties of periodically extended systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Fang Xie
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Jing-Bin Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Yang Wu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Laicai Li
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Xiang-Yang Liu
- College of Chemistry and Material Science, Sichuan Normal University, Chengdu 610068, China
| | - Ganglong Cui
- Key Laboratory of Theoretical and Computational Photochemistry, Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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3
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Xia P, Pan X, Jiang S, Yu J, He B, Ismail PM, Bai W, Yang J, Yang L, Zhang H, Cheng M, Li H, Zhang Q, Xiao C, Xie Y. Designing a Redox Heterojunction for Photocatalytic "Overall Nitrogen Fixation" under Mild Conditions. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2200563. [PMID: 35510590 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202200563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Ammonia and nitrates are the most fundamental and significant raw ingredients in human society. Till now, industrial synthetic ammonia by Haber-Bosch process and industrial synthetic nitrates by the Ostwald process have encountered increasingly serious challenges, i.e., high energy consumption, high cost, and environment-harmful gas emissions. Therefore, developing alternative approaches to achieve nitrogen fixation to overcome the inherent deficiencies of the well-established Haber-Bosch and Ostwald processes has fascinated scientists for many years, especially the simultaneous formation of ammonia and nitrate directly from N2 molecules, which has been rarely studied. Herein, a heterojunction-based photocatalytic system is designed to successfully achieve "overall nitrogen fixation," a sustainable and simultaneous conversion of N2 molecules into ammonia and nitrate products under mild conditions. In this heterojunction, interfacial charge redistribution (ICR) promotes selective accumulations of photogenerated electrons and holes in the CdS and WO3 components. As a result, N2 molecules can be activated and reduced to ammonia products with yields of 35.8 µmol h-1 g-1 by a multi-electron process, and synchronously oxidized into nitrate products with yields of 14.2 µmol h-1 g-1 by a hole-induced oxidation coupling process. This work provides a novel insight and promising approach to realize artificial nitrogen fixation under mild condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Xia
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 313001, P. R. China
| | - Xiancheng Pan
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Shenlong Jiang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Jiaguo Yu
- Laboratory of Solar Fuel, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Bowen He
- Laboratory of Solar Fuel, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Pir Muhammad Ismail
- Yangtze Delta Region Institute (Huzhou), University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 313001, P. R. China
| | - Wei Bai
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Jingjing Yang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Lan Yang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Huanhuan Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Ming Cheng
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Huiyi Li
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Qun Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
| | - Chong Xiao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P. R. China
| | - Yi Xie
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, P. R. China
- Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P. R. China
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Kuang Z, Berger FJ, Lustres JLP, Wollscheid N, Li H, Lüttgens J, Leinen MB, Flavel BS, Zaumseil J, Buckup T. Charge Transfer from Photoexcited Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes to Wide-Bandgap Wrapping Polymer. THE JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY. C, NANOMATERIALS AND INTERFACES 2021; 125:8125-8136. [PMID: 34055124 PMCID: PMC8154833 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcc.0c10171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
As narrow optical bandgap materials, semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are rarely regarded as charge donors in photoinduced charge-transfer (PCT) reactions. However, the unique band structure and unusual exciton dynamics of SWCNTs add more possibilities to the classical PCT mechanism. In this work, we demonstrate PCT from photoexcited semiconducting (6,5) SWCNTs to a wide-bandgap wrapping poly-[(9,9-dioctylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl)-alt-(6,6')-(2,2'-bipyridine)] (PFO-BPy) via femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. By monitoring the spectral dynamics of the SWCNT polaron, we show that charge transfer from photoexcited SWCNTs to PFO-BPy can be driven not only by the energetically favorable E33 transition but also by the energetically unfavorable E22 excitation under high pump fluence. This unusual PCT from narrow-bandgap SWCNTs toward a wide-bandgap polymer originates from the up-converted high-energy excitonic state (E33 or higher) that is promoted by the Auger recombination of excitons and charge carriers in SWCNTs. These insights provide new pathways for charge separation in SWCNT-based photodetectors and photovoltaic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuoran Kuang
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Felix J. Berger
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Jose Luis Pérez Lustres
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Wollscheid
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Han Li
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Jan Lüttgens
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Merve Balcı Leinen
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Benjamin S. Flavel
- Institute
of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe Institute of
Technology, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen 76344, Germany
| | - Jana Zaumseil
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Tiago Buckup
- Physikalisch
Chemisches Institut and Centre for Advanced Materials, Ruprecht-Karls Universität Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 229/253, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
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5
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Tuning the driving force for exciton dissociation in single-walled carbon nanotube heterojunctions. Nat Chem 2016; 8:603-9. [PMID: 27219706 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.2496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the kinetics and energetics of interfacial electron transfer in molecular systems is crucial for the development of a broad array of technologies, including photovoltaics, solar fuel systems and energy storage. The Marcus formulation for electron transfer relates the thermodynamic driving force and reorganization energy for charge transfer between a given donor/acceptor pair to the kinetics and yield of electron transfer. Here we investigated the influence of the thermodynamic driving force for photoinduced electron transfer (PET) between single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and fullerene derivatives by employing time-resolved microwave conductivity as a sensitive probe of interfacial exciton dissociation. For the first time, we observed the Marcus inverted region (in which driving force exceeds reorganization energy) and quantified the reorganization energy for PET for a model SWCNT/acceptor system. The small reorganization energies (about 130 meV, most of which probably arises from the fullerene acceptors) are beneficial in minimizing energy loss in photoconversion schemes.
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6
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Sfuncia G, Tuccitto N, Marletta G. Preparation and enhanced conducting properties of open networks of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/carbon nanotube hybrids. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra09592e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The preparation of new high conductivity nanohybrid open networks of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and single-walled carbon nanotubes (P3HT/SWNTs) by spin coating deposition is reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianfranco Sfuncia
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN)
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- University of Catania and CSGI
- Catania
- Italy
| | - Nunzio Tuccitto
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN)
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- University of Catania and CSGI
- Catania
- Italy
| | - Giovanni Marletta
- Laboratory for Molecular Surfaces and Nanotechnology (LAMSUN)
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- University of Catania and CSGI
- Catania
- Italy
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7
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Mardis KL, Webb JN, Holloway T, Niklas J, Poluektov OG. Electronic Structure of Fullerene Acceptors in Organic Bulk-Heterojunctions: A Combined EPR and DFT Study. J Phys Chem Lett 2015; 6:4730-5. [PMID: 26569578 PMCID: PMC4985179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.5b02111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are a promising alternative energy source. Attempts to improve their performance have focused on the optimization of electron-donating polymers, while electron-accepting fullerenes have received less attention. Here, we report an electronic structure study of the widely used soluble fullerene derivatives PC61BM and PC71BM in their singly reduced state, that are generated in the polymer:fullerene blends upon light-induced charge separation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations characterize the electronic structures of the fullerene radical anions through spin density distributions and magnetic resonance parameters. The good agreement of the calculated magnetic resonance parameters with those determined experimentally by advanced electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) allows the validation of the DFT calculations. Thus, for the first time, the complete set of magnetic resonance parameters including directions of the principal g-tensor axes were determined. For both molecules, no spin density is present on the PCBM side chain, and the axis of the largest g-value lies along the PCBM molecular axis. While the spin density distribution is largely uniform for PC61BM, it is not evenly distributed for PC71BM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristy L Mardis
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chicago State University , Chicago, Illinois 60628, United States
| | - Jeremy N Webb
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chicago State University , Chicago, Illinois 60628, United States
| | - Tarita Holloway
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, Chicago State University , Chicago, Illinois 60628, United States
| | - Jens Niklas
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
| | - Oleg G Poluektov
- Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory , Argonne, Illinois 60439, United States
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8
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Postupna O, Jaeger HM, Prezhdo OV. Photoinduced Dynamics in Carbon Nanotube Aggregates Steered by Dark Excitons. J Phys Chem Lett 2014; 5:3872-3877. [PMID: 26278762 DOI: 10.1021/jz502052b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Only optically active excitons can be identified by transient absorption spectroscopy, and the actual mechanisms of exciton relaxation in nanoscale systems remain unknown as dipole-forbidden transitions and charge-transfer states are not accounted for. Focusing on interacting (6,4) and (8,4) carbon nanotubes (CNTs), we show that dark excitons largely determine the relaxation pathways for photogenerated excitons in CNT bundles. New channels appear involving asymmetric electron-hole excitations within the same CNT and charge-transfer states, in which the electron and hole are confined to separate CNTs. The energy and charge transfers are facilitated by coupling to both low- and high-frequency phonons. Radial breathing modes are particularly important because they distort the CNT geometry, induce crossings of electronic states, and modulate coupling between CNTs. The time domain simulations reported herein uncover the quantum states and phonon modes that contribute to exciton relaxation in a CNT cluster, elucidating the complete relaxation mechanism. The established role of optically dark states pertains to nonequilibrium dynamics in nanoscale materials in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olena Postupna
- †Department of Chemistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, United States
| | - Heather M Jaeger
- ‡Department of Chemistry, Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania 18015-3102, United States
| | - Oleg V Prezhdo
- §Department of Chemistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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Deria P, Olivier JH, Park J, Therien MJ. Potentiometric, electronic, and transient absorptive spectroscopic properties of oxidized single-walled carbon nanotubes helically wrapped by ionic, semiconducting polymers in aqueous and organic media. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:14193-9. [PMID: 25211354 DOI: 10.1021/ja507457z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
We report the first direct cyclic voltammetric determination of the valence and conduction band energy levels for noncovalently modified (6,5) chirality enriched SWNTs [(6,5) SWNTs] in which an aryleneethynylene polymer monolayer helically wraps the nanotube surface at periodic and constant morphology. Potentiometric properties as well as the steady-state and transient absorption spectroscopic signatures of oxidized (6,5) SWNTs were probed as a function of the electronic structure of the aryleneethynylene polymer that helically wraps the nanotube surface, the solvent dielectric, and nanotube hole polaron concentration. These data: (i) highlight the utility of these polymer-SWNT superstructures in experiments that establish the potentiometric valence and conduction band energy levels of semiconducting carbon nanotubes; (ii) provide a direct measure of the (6,5) SWNT hole polaron delocalization length (2.75 nm); (iii) determine steady-state and transient electronic absorptive spectroscopic signatures that are uniquely associated with the (6,5) SWNT hole polaron state; and (iv) demonstrate that modulation of semiconducting polymer frontier orbital energy levels can drive spectral shifts of SWNT hole polaron transitions as well as regulate SWNT valence and conduction band energies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pravas Deria
- Department of Chemistry, French Family Science Center, Duke University , 124 Science Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27708-0346, United States
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