Covalent synthesis of perylenediimide-bridged silsesquioxane nanoribbons and their electronic properties

Abstract

Perylenediimide-functionalized silsesquioxane nanostructures were prepared from base-catalyzed polymerization of their respective monoalkoxysilane precursor. The shapes of nanostructures varied from nanoribbons to nanochains to nanorods upon changing the base concentration. Transmission electron microscopy confirms the twisted nature of nanoribbons with lengths up to 15 μm, whereas the dimensions of nanorods were in the range of 9 μm in length and 200 nm in width. The photovoltaic performance of the nanoribbons and nanorods were evaluated and compared for bulk heterojunction solar cells and it was discovered that morphology plays an important role in the PV performance.