Langmuir–Schaefer Films for Aligned Carbon Nanotubes Functionalized with a Conjugate Polymer and Photoelectrochemical Response Enhancement

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) were suspended in 1,2-dichloroethane by noncovalent functionalization with a low-band-gap conjugated polymer <b>1</b> alternating dialkoxyphenylene–bisthiophene units with benzo­[<i>c</i>]­[2,1,3]­thiadiazole monomeric units. The suspended <b>1</b>/SWCNT blend was transferred onto different solid substrates by the Langmuir–Schaefer deposition method, resulting in films with a high percentage of aligned nanotubes. Photoelectrochemical characterization of <b>1</b>/SWCNT thin films on indium–tin oxide showed the benefits of SWCNT alignment for photoconversion efficiency