Optical properties of conjugated polymer-ZnSe nanocrystal nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of poly[(2-methoxy,5-octoxy)1,4-phenylenevinylene]-zinc selenide (MOPPV-ZnSe) are synthesized by mixing the polymerization of 1,4-bis (chloromethyl)-2-methoxy-5-octoxy-benzene in the presence of ZnSe quantum dots. The resulting MOPPV-ZnSe nanocomposites possess a well-defined interfacial contact, thus significantly promoting the dispersion of ZnSe within the MOPPV matrix and facilitating the electronic interaction between these two components. Raman and UV–visible absorption spectra are influenced by the incorporation of ZnSe nanocrystals. High-resolution transmission electron microscopic and tapping-mode atomic force microscopic results show clearly the evidence for phase-segregated networks of ZnSe nanocrystals, which provide a large area of interface for charge separation to occur. Steady-state spectra of MOPPV-ZnSe nanocomposites are markedly quenched by the introduction of intimate polymer/ZnSe junctions. Time-resolved photoluminescence measurements show that the lifetime decays quickly, which further confirms the occurrence of charge transfer in MOPPV-ZnSe nanocomposites.