Article

Enhancement of optical properties of poly (9,9′-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) in conjugated polymer/TiO₂ nanocomposites

Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi,^a ^b Mohammad Hafizuddin Haji Jumali^a

^aSchool of Applied Physics, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

^bDepartment of Physics, Faculty of Science, Sana’a University, Sana’a, Yemen.

Correspondence authors: Bandar Ali Al-Asbahi (e-mail: alasbahibandar@gmail.com) and Mohammad Hafizuddin Haji Jumali (e-mail: hafizhj@ukm.my).

Published on the web 20 December 2013.

Received September 19, 2013. Accepted December 19, 2013.

Canadian Journal of Physics, 2014, 92(9): 1021-1025, https://doi.org/10.1139/cjp-2013-0486

Abstract

The influence of colloidal TiO₂ nanoparticle contents on the optical properties of poly (9,9′-di-n-octylfluorenyl-2,7-diyl) conjugated polymer (PFO) has been investigated. The solution blending method was used to prepare homogenous PFO/TiO₂ nanocomposite. The nanocomposite films were prepared on glass substrates using the spin-coating technique. The films were divided into two groups, the first was left to dry at room temperature while the second was heat-treated at 120 °C for 1 h. Absorption and emission spectra showed that the PFO existed in α- and β-phases morphology having monomeric, excimeric, and double excimeric states. In addition, both spectra revealed that TiO₂ contents and heat treatment temperature extended the conjugation length of PFO. Finally, emission spectra for both cases exhibited decreasing in the line width of zero-phonon emission spectra and increasing in the vibronic splitting energy, upon increment of the TiO₂, led to a significant increase in π-electron delocalization and lower degree in chain disorder.

PACS Nos.: 78.66

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