Modulation of optical, photophysical and electrical properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) via Gd:CdS nanoparticles

Herein, the impact of Gadolinium (Gd) doped cadmium sulphide (CdS) nanoparticles on the structural, optical, photophysical and electrical properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin films have been investigated. The structural, morphological and vibrational properties of fabricated films were probed by measuring X-ray diffraction spectra, scanning electron microscope images and FT-Raman spectra, respectively. The absorption spectra of P3HT thin films was noted to be red shifted and energy bandgap slightly decreases with incorporation of Gd:CdS nanoparticles. The extinction coefficient (k), refractive index (n) and dielectric constants (εr, εi) of pure and hybrid films were extracted from spectroscopic ellipsometer data fitted by new amorphous dispersion model (for P3HT) and Adachi-New Forouhi dispersion model (for CdS) and noted that the optical constants decreases with increase of Gd:CdS nanoparticles concentrations. The photoluminescence intensity of P3HT/Gd:CdS films was quenched as compare to pristine P3HT, also an additional bands observed in hybrid films corresponds to emission from Gd:CdS nanoparticles. The average fluorescence life times of pristine P3HT thin films was evaluated to be 154 ps which drop to 109 ps for hybrid film, ascribes to formation of additional decay paths created due to Gd:CdS doping. The electrical resistivity (ρ) and mobility (μ) of P3HT films were measured from Hall Effect systems and noted to be decreases for hybrid films whereas charge carrier concentration (nC) and sheet resistance (RS) increases.