Infiltrating P3HT polymer into ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays

Abstract

Infiltration of regioregular poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (RR P3HT) polymer into ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays is confirmed by UV-Vis absorption spectrometer measurement, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometer (TOF-SIMs) depth profiling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays of thickness 19 μm were formed by 2-step anodization of titanium foil in an ethylene-glycol-based solution and a dip-coating method was used to infiltrate the polymer into the TiO 2 nanotubes. UV-Vis absorption spectrometer measurement of P3HT/TiO 2 nanotubes shows a peak absorption at 500 nm due to embedded polymer within the nanotube arrays. TOF-SIMs depth profiling up to 500 nm shows P3HT polymer is infiltrated into the TiO 2 nanotube arrays. Furthermore, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) of the TEM indicates the presence of sulfur and carbon atoms due to the P3HT polymer. Polymer nanotubes can be observed with SEM after TiO 2 nanotubes infiltrated with polymer are etched by dilute HF solution. © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.