Lead quantum dots PbS-QDs have been purchased from the Quantum Solutions company with average size 6.1+/-0.9 nm and approximately 0.78 eV band energy. A cuboctahedron NCs shape with (111) and (100) facets [
16,
17] were capped with long aliphatic chained insulator oleic acid (OA) ligands which are typically applied during QD synthesis as stabilizing and passivating surfactants [
18]. OA is replaced by different types of ligands in this work. Anchor group of Amino Phenyl (AP) added to TIPS- pentacene (6-(phenylamineethyinyl)-13-(triisopropylsilylethinyl)-pentacene) has been synthesized by Bettinger’s group in Tübingen.
reacts with the lone electron pair on the nitrogen of amino-phenyl
of AP-TIPS- pentacene in n-Hexan solvent to fabricate thin films of PbS-AP-TIPS-pentacene core-shell semiconductor nanoparticles. These ligands were classified according to their electrons donation to
atoms. Ligands which donate
called X-type e.g. iodide, carboxylates, thiolates and 0 called Z-type like amines[
19]. The neutrality and Fermi level position with respect to LUMO or HOMO level depends on the charge balance and thermodynamic stability of QDs and ligands together. Fermi level determines the semiconductor type of the final PbS- ligands films. If the ligands do not totally cover the QDs, atoms can react with oxygen atoms during or post-preparation. In that case, dangling bonds would remain at the surface. Both oxygen and dangling bonds are a source of traps. Other molecules like
acid (5-monocarboxyphenyl-10,15, 20 - Tetraphenylporphyrin), mZnTPP-carboxylic acid (Zn-(5-monocarboxyphenyl-10,15, 20 - Tetraphenylporphyrin)) and diZnTPP-carboxylic acid (Zn-(5-dicarboxyphenyl-10,15, 20 -Tetraphenylporphyrin)) were modified with mono - and di- caboxyl (COOH) side groups. These molecules were synthesized in Toluene and Dimethylformamid (DMF). Since the carboxylic acid group dissociates upon binding to a nanocrystal surface, this results in a proton
and an oleate
. In this case, the reaction takes place between the
and carboxylate
. The new ligands of mono
acid and mZnTPP-carboxylic acid replace OA and form distinctive shells around the NCs. Subsequently, the distances among the NCs and the electronic properties also undergo transmutation depending on the ligand properties and dimensions. A cross link between two adjacent NCs is formed in the case of diZnTPP-carboxylic acid because the molecules have two carboxylic side groups. In the real space, the molecules have different confirmation shapes. One or more of their side phenyl rings can form angles in reference to the main axis of the molecules’ backbones and other corresponding rings. The Jaguar optimization tool of Schrödinger software is used to plot the molecules and the calculation of the angles. Ligand exchange was performed by spin coating one of the ligands
, mZnTPP-carboxylic acid, diZnTPP-carboxylic acid and PbS-NCs layers sequentially followed by a washing process after each PbS-ligand exchange layer. PbS-NCs and AP-TIPS-pentacene were mixed and the reaction took place inside the same vial before spin-coating the layers without a washing process. For oxidization reduction, samples were prepared in a nitrogen environment inside a glove box as oxygen and hydroxyl
were observed attached to the PbS NCs’ surface of (111) facets by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyzer [
20]. Molecules like bathocuproine (BCP) and hexaazatriphenylenehexacarbonitrile (HATCN) were used in the normal and inverted stacks. BCP was used as an exciton blocking layer, while HATCN was used as an efficient transport layer at the reverse bias of the solar cell [
21].
Figure 1.
Sketches of PbS-NC and organic molecules which have been used in this research.
Figure 1.
Sketches of PbS-NC and organic molecules which have been used in this research.