Dominique Mombrú

Raman Microscopy Insights on the Out-of-Plane Electrical Transport of Carbon Nanotube-Doped PEDOT:PSS Electrodes for Solar Cell Applications

In the present report, we focused on the study of the out-of-plane electrical transport of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) composites (PEDOT:PSS-MWCNTs) as electrodes for solar cell applications. The out-of-plane direct current and alternating current electrical transport, rarely studied but not less relevant, was additionally supported with in-plane and out-of-plane confocal Raman microscopy and grazing incidence small-angle X-ray scattering characterizations. The main relevance of our study is the monitoring of the polymer structure all across the polymeric film by using confocal Raman spectroscopy and its correlation with electrical transport. Modifications in the PEDOT benzenoid and quinoid conformations were observed in the vicinities of MWCNTs, and the enrichment of PSS at the indium tin oxide electrode interface was also evidenced. In consequence, the low MWCNT loadings into PEDOT:PSS lead to an increase of the out-of-plane conductivity, but the heavier MWCNT loadings lead to a drastic decrease. The tuning of the doping level of these polymer composites and the understanding of the interface structure are crucial to fabricate electrodes with higher out-of-plane conductivities for organic solar cell applications.

From positive to negative magnetoresistance behavior at low applied magnetic fields for polyaniline:titania quantum dot nanocomposites

Here, we report the tuning from the positive to negative magnetoresistance response at room temperature and low applied magnetic fields (H ∼ 200 mT) for polyaniline nancomposites prepared via in situ growth of titanium oxide quantum dots. In addition, we showed experimental Raman evidence revealing that the positive magnetoresistance response in these polyaniline nanocomposites is mediated by the bipolaron mechanism. Confocal Raman spectroscopy under applied magnetic field analysis showed the decrease of the polaron population to form bipolarons of polyaniline when exposed to an applied magnetic field for the TiO2 quantum dot diluted regime. Negative magnetoresistance, observed for the TiO2 quantum dot higher concentration regime, was attributed to the suppression of polyaniline polarons probably associated with its partial chemical functionalization at the interface due to the increasing concentration of TiO2 quantum dots.Here, we report the tuning from the positive to negative magnetoresistance response at room temperature and low applied magnetic fields (H ∼ 200 mT) for polyaniline nancomposites prepared via in situ growth of titanium oxide quantum dots. In addition, we showed experimental Raman evidence revealing that the positive magnetoresistance response in these polyaniline nanocomposites is mediated by the bipolaron mechanism. Confocal Raman spectroscopy under applied magnetic field analysis showed the decrease of the polaron population to form bipolarons of polyaniline when exposed to an applied magnetic field for the TiO2 quantum dot diluted regime. Negative magnetoresistance, observed for the TiO2 quantum dot higher concentration regime, was attributed to the suppression of polyaniline polarons probably associated with its partial chemical functionalization at the interface due to the increasing concentration of TiO2 quantum dots.