Synthesis and Efficient Phase Transfer of CdSe Nanoparticles for Hybrid Solar Cell Applications

Abstract

Colloidal cadmium selenide (CdSe) nanoparticles capped by a short chain thiol ligand thioglycolic acid (TGA) were prepared in aqueous medium at 100 ∘ C using sodium selenite as the selenium source. The prepared particles were efficiently transferred into organic phases through the partial ligand exchange process using 1-dodecanethiol (1-DDT). The FT-IR spectrum analysis shows the existence of the ligands on the surface of the nanoparticles in aqueous and organic phase through their characteristic modes. TEM analysis of the prepared samples reveals the size and crystalline nature of the particles. EDX analysis indicates the presence of respective elements in the resultant powdered sample. The possible mechanism of the phase transfer process was analysed. The resultant phase-transferred particles can efficiently be blended with a low band gap semiconducting polymer in a common solvent for active layer in hybrid solar cell fabrication. The results are discussed in detail.