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Infiltrating P3HT polymer into ordered TiO 2 nanotube arrays
Author(s) -
Lim Siew Leng,
Liu Yiliang,
Liu Gang,
Xu Sheng Yong,
Pan Hua Yong,
Kang EnTang,
Ong Chong Kim
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
physica status solidi (a)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.532
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1862-6319
pISSN - 1862-6300
DOI - 10.1002/pssa.201026363
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , nanotube , carbon nanotube , transmission electron microscopy , scanning electron microscope , chemical engineering , analytical chemistry (journal) , nanotechnology , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
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.