Solution-processed organic-inorganic hybrid material based on P3HT and SnS₂ nanoparticles layers: Synthesis and properties

Sn-based nanocomposites attract extensive attention as a new generation of photoelectric hybrid materials due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency. In this work we synthesized SnS2 nanoparticles by a hydrothermal method employing citric acid (capping agent) and performed a capping agent exchange by pyridine to improve their solution processing and final properties. We fabricated layers with pyridine-capped nanoparticles and poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), employing the classical partial film sequence of a solar cell (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT:Nps). We found a "coupling" between the nanoparticles and the polymer and highly ordered structures within the layers. The addition of nanoparticles improved the UV-vis absorption of P3HT and allowed the exploitation of the photoluminescence emission to promote extra charge carrier generation. Moreover, we found that SnS2_py nanoparticles form a nanoscopic mixture with the P3HT. Our pyridine-capped SnS2 nanoparticles are good candidates for fabricating hybrid materials, employing P3HT as the organic compound for application in polymeric-inorganic solar cells.