Photophysical properties of metallo-conjugated polymer-carbon nanotube hybrid materials

Abstract

We report the design and synthesis of a series of metallo-conjugated polymer incorporated with photosensitizers at the pendant chain and transition metal complex moieties on the main chain. Upon excitation of the sensitizing units, a rapid photo-induced electron transfer (time constant of the order of ~100 ps) occurred between the sensitizer and the backbone. The relative energy level of the electron donor and acceptor can be fined-tuned by carrying the type of metal complex moieties incorporated to the conjugated main chain. The dynamics of the electron transfer was probed by ultrafast time-resolved transient absorption spectroscopy. It was observed that these metallo-conjugated polymers could anchor on the surface of single walled carbon nanotubes due to the strong π-π interaction between the polymer and the nanotube surface. The interaction between the polymer and nanotube surface was studied by molecular dynamics calculations. The polymer-nanotube hybrid formed very stable dispersion, which also showed a remarkable difference in photo-induced electron transfer dynamics.