Composite film containing titania electrostatically linked to oxidized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (TiO2-s-MWNTs) was prepared from a suspension of TiO2 nanoparticles in soluble carbon nanotubes. The structure of the film was analysed principally by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron micrography and x-ray diffraction. The optical and electrical characterizations of the film were investigated by UV–vis spectrum, photoluminescence and photoconductivity. The enhancement of photocurrent in the TiO2-s-MWNT film is discussed by taking the photoinduced charge transfer between the MWNT and TiO2 into consideration.

Azobenzene

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) nanorods (80–150 nm in diameter) and nanospheres were synthesized through a self-assembly method using ferric chloride (FeCl3) and ammonium persulfate (APS) as oxidants, respectively, and camphorsulfonic acid (CSA) as the dopant. The PEDOT nanorods showed broader absorption bands, higher crystallinity and much higher room-temperature conductivity (approximately 300 S cm−1) than the PEDOT nanospheres. Such obviously distinct properties of these products were considered to be due to the much lower rate of polymerization with FeCl3 than APS, which made the growth of PEDOT according to the suggested cylinder micelles more moderate and regular; as a result, the morphology of the microstructure changed and the crystallinity, the doping level, the molecular orderliness and the conductivity of PEDOT synthesized under lower rate of polymerization improved intensely at the same time.

Covalent

Organic photovoltaic devices based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and a fullerene have been studied by inserting oriented zinc oxide nanopillars which were fabricated by a new method at low temperature (343 K). The dependence of the photovoltaic performance on the zinc oxide morphology was investigated, and it is concluded that the oriented zinc oxide nanopillar array plays an important role in collecting photogenerated electrons and acts as a conducting path to the electrode. Insertion of the oriented zinc oxide nanopillars in the photovoltaic cells produced enhanced performance with a power conversion efficiency of 1.22% under AM1.5 illumination.