Nanocomposites of gold and poly(3-hexylthiophene) containing fullerene moieties: Synthesis, characterization and application in solar cells

Abstract Functionalized C 60 was reacted with 3-hexylthiophene in the presence of FeCl 3 to produce a copolymer (P3HT-C 60 ) containing 3-hexylthiophene units as the main chain, with C 60 side groups. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized in the presence of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), or P3HT-C 60 copolymer, using a two-phase, one–pot reaction involving the reduction of HAuCl 4 by NaBH 4 . This approach resulted in the formation of nanocomposites where AuNPs are directly stabilized with P3HT or P3HT-C 60 . All the materials were characterized using UV–vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and were applied as sensitizers or co-sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The synergistic effect in the ternary component nanocomposite introduced by the presence of C 60 and AuNPs resulted in devices with higher photocurrents compared to standard devices.