Doping poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] with PbSe nanoparticles or fullerenes

Authors

D. K. Chambers, Louisiana Tech University
Zhaoyan Zhang, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
F. Khatkhatay, Louisiana Tech University
S. Karanam, Louisiana Tech University
Orhan Kizilkaya, Louisiana State University at Baton RougeFollow
Yaroslav B. Losovyj, Louisiana State University at Baton RougeFollow
Sandra Zivanovic Selmic, Louisiana Tech UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

8-2008

Citation

Journal Of Physics: Condensed Matter, 20 (2008) 382202 (4pp); doi:10.1088/0953-8984/20/38/382202

Comments

Copyright 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd. Used by permission.

Abstract

The positions of the molecular orbitals of the conjugated semiconducting polymer, poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), relative to the Fermi level, shift when lead selenide (PbSe) quantum dots or the fullerene based molecule [(6)]-1-(3-(methoxycarbonyl)propyl)-[(5)]-1-phenyl-[5,6]-C61, known as PCBM, are dispersed in the polymer host. This is evident from the consistent shifts of occupied molecular orbitals and the valence band edge to greater binding energies and a decrease in density of states near the Fermi level, as probed by photoemission. In the case of PbSe nanocrystal quantum dots, far smaller binding energy shifts were observed. This behavior seems more characteristic of a charge donor, though PbSe and PCBM should act as charge acceptors. In the case of both dopants, what doping does exist occurs only with small concentrations (<10%). MEH-PPV doped with a large-Z semiconducting material, such as PbSe nanocrystal quantum dots, is a candidate for use as a good gamma radiation detector.