Electrodeposition of carbon nanotube semi-transparent thin films: a facile route for preparing photoactive polymeric hybrid materials

In this work we report how the plasma treatment of electrophoretically deposited single-walled carbon nanotubes (e-SWCNTs) enabled us to obtain semi-transparent thin films used as anodes for the development of organic solar cells. Combining plasma treated e-SWCNT network with a conducting polymer (poly[7-(thien-3-ylsulfanyl)heptanoic acid]-co-thiophene), an increase of the open-circuit voltage and of the short-circuit current density was observed. We attribute this effect to an enhanced hole collection by the nanotube electrode due to their short aspect ratio permitting a better interpenetration of the polymer.