title: Photoluminescence Quenching and Enhanced Optical Conductivity of P3HT-Derived Ho(3+)-Doped ZnO Nanostructures.
abstract: In this article, we demonstrate the surface effect and optoelectronic properties of holmium (Ho(3+))-doped ZnO in P3HT polymer nanocomposite. We incorporated ZnO:Ho(3+) (0.5 mol% Ho) nanostructures in the pristine P3HT-conjugated polymer and systematically studied the effect of the nanostructures on the optical characteristics. Detailed UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis revealed enhanced absorption coefficient and optical conductivity in the P3HT-ZnO:Ho(3+) film as compared to the pristine P3HT. Moreover, the obtained photoluminescence (PL) results established the improvement of exciton dissociation as a result of ZnO:Ho(3+) nanostructures inclusion. The occurrence of PL quenching is the result of enhanced charge transfer due to ZnO:Ho(3+) nanostructures in the polymer, whereas energy transfer from ZnO:Ho(3+) to P3HT was verified. Overall, the current investigation revealed a systematic tailoring of the optoelectronic properties of pristine P3HT after inclusion of ZnO:Ho(3+) nanostructures, thus opening brilliant perspectives for applications in various optoelectronic devices.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003, Pretoria, South Africa. geekale@gmail.com.|CSIR-National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, PO Box 395, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa. geekale@gmail.com.|Département de Physique, Université Pédagogique Nationale, 8815, Kinshasa, République Démocratique du Congo. geekale@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Guy L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Kabongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Pontsho S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mbule
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, PO Box 395, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Gugu H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Mhlongo
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors.forename: Bakang M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Mothudi
authors.affiliation: CSIR-National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, PO Box 395, 0001, Pretoria, South Africa.|Department of Physics, University of Free State, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa.
authors.forename: Kenneth T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Hillie
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003, Pretoria, South Africa. dhlamms@unisa.ac.za.
authors.forename: Mokhotjwa S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Dhlamini
keywords: Charge transfer; P3HT-ZnO:Ho3+; PL quenching; UV-Vis absorption; XPS