title: Grafting Poly(3-hexylthiophene) from Silicon Nanocrystal Surfaces: Synthesis and Properties of a Functional Hybrid Material with Direct Interfacial Contact.
abstract: Hybrid functional materials (HFMs) comprised of semiconductor nanoparticles and conjugated polymers offer the potential of synergetic photophysical properties. We have developed HFMs based upon silicon nanocrystals (SiNCs) and the conductive polymer poly(3-hexylthiophene) (SiNC@P3HT) by applying surface-initiated Kumada catalyst transfer polycondensation (SI-KCTP). One unique characteristic of the developed SiNC@P3HT is the formation of a direct covalent bonding between SiNCs and P3HT. The presented method for obtaining direct interfacial attachment, which is not accessible using other methods, may allow for the development of materials with efficient electronic communication at the donor-acceptor interfaces. Systematic characterization provides evidence of a core-shell structure, enhanced interfacial electron and/or energy transfer between the P3HT and SiNC components, as well as formation of a type-II heterostructure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Muhammad Amirul
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Tapas K
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8948-6526
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Purkait
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Md Hosnay
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Mobarok
authors.affiliation: Wacker-Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Ignaz M D
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Hoehlein
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sinelnikov
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada.
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iqbal
authors.affiliation: Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Doron
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Azulay
authors.affiliation: Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Balberg
authors.affiliation: Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel.
authors.forename: Oded
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Millo
authors.affiliation: Wacker-Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Chemie, Technische Universität München, Lichtenbergstrasse 4, 85747, Garching, Germany.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rieger
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Alberta, 11227 Saskatchewan Drive, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G2, Canada. jveinot@ualberta.ca.
authors.forename: Jonathan G C
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Veinot
keywords: hybrid materials; interfaces; nanocrystals; poly(3-hexylthiophene); silicon