Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol.120, No.31, 7848-7859, 1998
Layer-by-layer assembly of thin film zener diodes from conducting polymers and CdSe nanoparticles
Ultrathin films have been prepared by Self-assembling trioctylphosphine oxide, TOPO, capped n-type 20-40 Angstrom diameter CdSe nanoparticles and 1,6-hexadecanethiol, HDT, onto p-doped semiconducting polymers, chemically deposited poly(3-methylthiophene), PMeT (for Device A); and electrochemically deposited poly(pyrrole), Ppy (for Device B). The semiconducting polymers have, in turn, been electrochemically layered (for Device A) or layer-by-layer chemically assembled (for Device B) onto derivatized conducting substrates. The ultrathin films have been characterized by absorption and emission spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning force microscopy! X-ray-photoelectron spectroscopy,and by electrochemical measurements. By controlling the level of doping into the p-type junction, it was possible to prepare dissymmetrical junctions and observe a rectifying behavior in the forward direction and a Zener breakdown in the reverse direction for Au/PMeT/(HDT/CdSe)(3), Device A, and for Au/MEA/Ppy/(HDT/CdSe)(3), Device B. Additionally, Au/MeA/PAWCdSe (PAH = poly(allylamine hydrochloride)), Au/MEA/Ppy/PSS/CdSe (PSS = polystyrene sulfonate), and Au/MEA/Ppy/alpha-ZrP/CdSe (alpha-ZrP = alpha zirconium phosphate) films have been prepared and characterized.
Keywords:LIGHT-EMITTING-DIODES;RAY PHOTOELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY;ELECTROCHEMICAL PROPERTIES;POLYTHIOPHENE FILMS;PROPYLENE CARBONATE;CADMIUM-SULFIDE;LITHIUM CELLS;POLYPYRROLE;OVEROXIDATION;BIPOLARONS