Controlled Photocatalytic Deposition of CdS Nanoparticles on Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanofibers: A Versatile Approach To Obtain Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Semiconductor Assemblies

To efficiently harness the possible synergies, stemming from the combination of organic conducting polymers and inorganic semiconductors; sophisticated assembling methods are required to control the composition and morphology at the nanoscale. In this proof-of-concept study, we demonstrate the in situ photocatalytic deposition of CdS nanoparticles on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibers, exploiting the semiconducting nature of this polymer. The formation of the hybrid assembly was monitored by UV-vis and Raman spectroscopy, Energydispersive X-ray microanalysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Transmission electron microscopic studies and AFM images confirmed that both the particle size and the loading can be tuned by the deposition time. Photoelectro chemical studies revealed the facile transfer of photogenerated electrons from P3HT to CdS, as well as that of the holes from CdS to P3HT. It is believed that ensuring intimate contact between the components in these nanohybrids will open new avenues in various application schemes, e.g., solar energy conversion.