Photoinduced electron transfer in composites of conjugated polymers and dendrimers with branched colloidal nanoparticles

Charge generation and separation dynamics in donor: acceptor systems based on composites of branched CdSe nanoparticles with a phenyl-cored thiophene-containing dendrimer (4G1-3S), or a low-bandgap conjugated polymer (PCPDTBT) are reported upon exclusive excitation of the donor or the acceptor. Time-resolved microwave conductivity is used to study the dynamics of either transfer of holes from the nanoparticle to dendrimer, or conversely the transfer of electrons from the polymer to the nanoparticle. Higher photoconductance signals and longer decay-times are correlated with device efficiencies, where composites with higher nanoparticle concentration exhibit higher solar photovoltaic power conversion efficiencies and an increase in external quantum efficiencies. This work evaluates the contribution of both components to device performance, but specifically the role of photoexcited nanoparticles.