(352e) Optical and Electrical Characterization of Conjugated Polymer/Ceramic Nanocomposites

Composites of optoelectric polymers are being studied to try and obtain enhancement in the absorption, transport, and emission properties of devices made of the composites relative to the pure polymers. These blends typically exhibit familiar properties of each constituent. Nanostructured blends, however, will generally show diminished influence from one of the polymers on those properties. It has been suggested this is due to enhanced charge transfer between the two conjugated polymers as a result of strong molecular interactions caused by extrusion induced confinement in the structure.

This theory will be tested by constructing composite polymer nanotubes of MEH-PPV and P3HT in aluminum oxide will be created using the template wetting nanofabrication solution-based wetting technique. Solution-based wetting has been noted for its relatively high level of process control. With the solution based process, the resultant nanostructure can be altered by solvent selection, composition and viscosity of the wetting solution, and molecular weight. The process also facilitates creation of nanostructures from polymer blends with a high degree of uniformity.

These organo-ceramic devices will be analyzed to show the any differences from more traditional polymer composites (films, fibers, etc.). Electron/hole transport properties will show any changes in mobility that may result from the blending of MEH-PPV and P3HT. Optical properties will be collected to determine relative changes in effective conjugation length from the base polymers.