Issue 20, 2013

Aqueous photocathode activity of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Abstract

The aqueous photocathode activity of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene), a p-type organic semiconductor, is presented. Photocurrents up to 20 μA cm−2 under 100 mW cm−2 AM 1.5D irradiation were observed. The highest photon-to-current conversion efficiency was produced for the thinnest films studied (40 nm), attaining a value of 0.55%, which is 10 times greater than reported for regiorandom P3HT. Increasing the thickness of the polymer increased the photocurrent but decreased the photoconversion efficiency. UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy indicates protonation is restricted to the surface of the films in aqueous acid. A mechanism for the photocathode activity involving reduction of surface-protonated P3HT is proposed.

Graphical abstract: Aqueous photocathode activity of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
26 Jan 2013
Accepted
24 Mar 2013
First published
25 Mar 2013

Polym. Chem., 2013,4, 5345-5350

Aqueous photocathode activity of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

G. Suppes, E. Ballard and S. Holdcroft, Polym. Chem., 2013, 4, 5345 DOI: 10.1039/C3PY00143A

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