Fabrication of Ag Nanorods-Embedded P3HT/PCBM Films for the Enhancement of Light Absorption

We report a facile method for preparing hybrid nanostructured films composed of poly(3-hexlythiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with silver (Ag) nanorods (AgNRs) array. The AgNRs were synthesized by an electrochemical deposition method using an anodic aluminum oxide template with 50-nm-pore-diameter and 10-μm-thickness. The nanostructured P3HT/PCBM film was formed by the intercalation of AgNRs into the P3HT/PCBM film. The nanostructured P3HT/PCBM film with AgNRs showed enhanced optical absorption in the spectral range of 300-650 nm due to localized surface plasmon resonance and scattering effects around the AgNRs compared with spin-coated and nanopatterned P3HT/PCBM films without AgNRs.