Hybrid nanocomposites for optical applications

Incorporating inorganic particles into conjugated polymer matrices is an area of current interest in the fields of optoelectronics and solar energy. The hybrid nanocomposites exhibit interesting physical properties thanks to good optical properties of polymers and to high carrier mobility of inorganic semiconductors. A judicious combination of organic/inorganic can therefore provide materials of low cost, ease processing, high stability, with specific electrical and optical properties.In the present study, we briefly review the composite materials that have been successfully utilized in the field of optoelectronics and photovoltaic conversion. We shall describe in particular a family of nanocomposites using polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) of general formula (RSiO_3/2)n where R is an organic group as a core. The composites are made by grafting functional polymer groups to the core, which allows the control of their optical properties. Such composites have high mechanical resistance and stability because of the special structure of the core. For illustration, we present a study of polyfluorene (PF)/POSS materials used as an active layer in organic light emitting diodes, with improved performance as compared to those using polymer only, and we discuss the role of the particles in the transport and emission processes in the devices studied.