Nanocomposites of gold and poly(3-hexylthiophene) containing fullerene moieties: Synthesis, characterization and application in solar cells

Functionalized C ₆₀ was reacted with 3-hexylthiophene in the presence of FeCl ₃ to produce a copolymer (P3HT-C ₆₀) containing 3-hexylthiophene units as the main chain, with C ₆₀ side groups. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized in the presence of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), or P3HT-C ₆₀ copolymer, using a two-phase, one-pot reaction involving the reduction of HAuCl ₄ by NaBH ₄. This approach resulted in the formation of nanocomposites where AuNPs are directly stabilized with P3HT or P3HT-C ₆₀. All the materials were characterized using UV-vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and were applied as sensitizers or co-sensitizers in dye-sensitized solar cells. The synergistic effect in the ternary component nanocomposite introduced by the presence of C ₆₀ and AuNPs resulted in devices with higher photocurrents compared to standard devices.