10.1039/b904863d
The study focuses on the design and synthesis of an oligothiophene molecule, 5TPY, which noncovalently functionalizes single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) to create a hybrid material for photovoltaic devices. The purpose of this hybrid material is to leverage the excellent electron transfer abilities of SWNTs, their flexibility, and optical transparency to potentially enhance the performance of flexible organic solar cells. The chemicals used in the study include pyrene as the CNT-binding group due to its ability to adsorb to carbon nanotubes through π-π stacking interactions, a quinquethiophene segment as the electronically active segment, and various reagents in the synthesis process such as 2-thiophenecarbonitrile, NBS (N-bromosuccinimide), TFA (Trifluoroacetic acid), 1-pyrenebutyric acid, DPTS (N,N'-Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide), EDCI (1-Ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide), and tributyltin compounds. These chemicals serve to construct the 5TPY molecule and facilitate its assembly around the SWNTs, preserving the electronic properties of the nanotubes for use in photovoltaic applications.