A shape tailored gold-conductive polymer nanocomposite as a transparent electrode with extraordinary insensitivity to volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

In this study, the transparent conducting polymer of poly (3,4-ethylenendioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulphonate) (PEDOT:PSS) was nanohybridized via inclusion of gold nanofillers including nanospheres (NSs) and nanorods (NRs). Such nanocomposite thin films offer not only more optimum conductivity than the pristine polymer but also excellent resistivity against volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Interestingly, such amazing properties are achieved in the diluted regimes of the nanofillers and depend on the characteristics of the interfacial region of the polymer and nanofillers, i.e. the aspect ratio of the latter component. Accordingly, a shape dependent response is made that is more desirable in case of using the Au nanorods with a much larger aspect ratio than their nanosphere counterparts. This transparent nanocomposite thin film with an optimized conductivity and very low sensitivity to organic gases is undoubtedly a promising candidate material for the touch screen panel production industry. Considering PEDOT as a known material for integrated electrodes in energy saving applications, we believe that our strategy might be an important progress in the field.Peer reviewe

Understanding the Capacitance of PEDOT:PSS

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is the most studied and explored mixed ion-electron conducting polymer system. PEDOT: PSS is commonly included as an electroactive conductor in various organic devices, e.g., supercapacitors, displays, transistors, and energy-converters. In spite of its long-term use as a material for storage and transport of charges, the fundamentals of its bulk capacitance remain poorly understood. Generally, charge storage in supercapacitors is due to formation of electrical double layers or redox reactions, and it is widely accepted that PEDOT: PSS belongs to the latter category. Herein, experimental evidence and theoretical modeling results are reported that significantly depart from this commonly accepted picture. By applying a two-phase, 2D modeling approach it is demonstrated that the major contribution to the capacitance of the two-phase PEDOT: PSS originates from electrical double layers formed along the interfaces between nanoscaled PEDOT-rich and PSS-rich interconnected grains that comprises two phases of the bulk of PEDOT: PSS. This new insight paves a way for designing materials and devices, based on mixed ion-electron conductors, with improved performance.Funding Agencies|The Swedish Energy Agency [38332-1]; Swedish Research Council [245-2010-1062]; Research Centre Security Link [VINNOVA 2009-00966]; Norrkopings fond for Forskning och Utveckling; CeNano; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Advanced Functional Material SFO-center at Linkoping University [2009-00971]; Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC); European Research Council (ERC) [307596, 681881]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Tail of the Sun); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [0-3D]</p

Understanding the Capacitance of PEDOT:PSS

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) is the most studied and explored mixed ion-electron conducting polymer system. PEDOT: PSS is commonly included as an electroactive conductor in various organic devices, e.g., supercapacitors, displays, transistors, and energy-converters. In spite of its long-term use as a material for storage and transport of charges, the fundamentals of its bulk capacitance remain poorly understood. Generally, charge storage in supercapacitors is due to formation of electrical double layers or redox reactions, and it is widely accepted that PEDOT: PSS belongs to the latter category. Herein, experimental evidence and theoretical modeling results are reported that significantly depart from this commonly accepted picture. By applying a two-phase, 2D modeling approach it is demonstrated that the major contribution to the capacitance of the two-phase PEDOT: PSS originates from electrical double layers formed along the interfaces between nanoscaled PEDOT-rich and PSS-rich interconnected grains that comprises two phases of the bulk of PEDOT: PSS. This new insight paves a way for designing materials and devices, based on mixed ion-electron conductors, with improved performance.Funding Agencies|The Swedish Energy Agency [38332-1]; Swedish Research Council [245-2010-1062]; Research Centre Security Link [VINNOVA 2009-00966]; Norrkopings fond for Forskning och Utveckling; CeNano; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation; Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research (SSF); Advanced Functional Material SFO-center at Linkoping University [2009-00971]; Swedish National Infrastructure for Computing (SNIC); European Research Council (ERC) [307596, 681881]; Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (Tail of the Sun); Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research [0-3D]</p

Almost self-complementary factors of complete bipartite graphs

A complete bipartite graph without one edge, , is called almost complete bipartite graph. A graph that can be decomposed into two isomorphic factors with a given diameter d is called d-isodecomposable. We prove that is d-isodecomposable only if d = 3, 4, 5, 6 or ∞ and completely determine all d-isodecomposable almost complete bipartite graphs for each diameter. For d = ∞ we, moreover, present all classes of possible disconnected factors

Fast Electron Trapping in Anodized TiO2 Nanotubes

We studied charge transport in anodized TiO2 nanotubes in the context of their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Optical-pump-THz- probe spectroscopy revealed short free carrier lifetimes of about 15-30 ps, which we attribute to shallow trapping. © 2013 IEEE

Fast charge-carrier trapping in TiO2 nanotubes

One-dimensional semiconductors such as nanowires and nanotubes are attractive materials for incorporation in photovoltaic devices as they potentially offer short percolation pathways to charge-collecting contacts. We report the observation of free-electron lifetimes in TiO2 nanotubes of the order of tens of picoseconds. These lifetimes are surprisingly short compared to those determined in films of TiO2 nanoparticles. Samples of ordered nanotube arrays with several different tube wall thicknesses were fabricated by anodization and have been investigated by means of optical-pump-terahertz-probe (OPTP) spectroscopy, which allows measurement of transient photoinduced conductivity with picosecond resolution. Our results indicate a two-stage decay of the photoexcited electron population. We attribute the faster component to temporary immobilization of charge in shallow trap states, from which electrons can detrap again by thermal excitation. The slower component most likely reflects irreversible trapping in states deeper below the conduction band edge. Free-electron lifetimes associated with shallow trapping appear to be independent of the tube wall thickness and have very similar values for electrons directly photoexcited in the material and for those injected from an attached photoexcited dye. These results suggest that trap states are not predominantly located at the surface of the tubes. The effective THz charge-carrier mobility in the TiO2 nanotubes is determined (0.1-0.4 cm2/(Vs)) and found to be within the same range as carrier mobilities reported for TiO2 nanoparticles. Implications for the relative performance of these nanostructures in dye-sensitized solar cells are discussed

Fast charge-carrier trapping in TiO2 nanotubes

One-dimensional semiconductors such as nanowires and nanotubes are attractive materials for incorporation in photovoltaic devices as they potentially offer short percolation pathways to charge-collecting contacts. We report the observation of free-electron lifetimes in TiO2 nanotubes of the order of tens of picoseconds. These lifetimes are surprisingly short compared to those determined in films of TiO2 nanoparticles. Samples of ordered nanotube arrays with several different tube wall thicknesses were fabricated by anodization and have been investigated by means of optical-pump-terahertz-probe (OPTP) spectroscopy, which allows measurement of transient photoinduced conductivity with picosecond resolution. Our results indicate a two-stage decay of the photoexcited electron population. We attribute the faster component to temporary immobilization of charge in shallow trap states, from which electrons can detrap again by thermal excitation. The slower component most likely reflects irreversible trapping in states deeper below the conduction band edge. Free-electron lifetimes associated with shallow trapping appear to be independent of the tube wall thickness and have very similar values for electrons directly photoexcited in the material and for those injected from an attached photoexcited dye. These results suggest that trap states are not predominantly located at the surface of the tubes. The effective THz charge-carrier mobility in the TiO2 nanotubes is determined (0.1-0.4 cm2/(Vs)) and found to be within the same range as carrier mobilities reported for TiO2 nanoparticles. Implications for the relative performance of these nanostructures in dye-sensitized solar cells are discussed

Fast Electron Trapping in Anodized TiO2 Nanotubes

We studied charge transport in anodized TiO2 nanotubes in the context of their application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Optical-pump-THz- probe spectroscopy revealed short free carrier lifetimes of about 15-30 ps, which we attribute to shallow trapping. © 2013 IEEE