Interconnected and Layered Morphological Structure of Polycarbazole-Vanadium Pentoxide Nanocomposites for the Application of OLED as ETL Material
摘要
Polycarbazole (PCZ), Vanadium Pentoxide (V2O5), and their nanocomposites (PCZ–V2O5) were synthesized using chemical oxidative polymerization (COP). Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed uneven growth and clustering of V2O5 particles within the PCZ matrix, while energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the distribution of nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed nanocomposite formation, with noticeable peak shifts, broadening, and changes in lattice parameters due to interactions between PCZ and V2O5. The estimated crystallite size was found to be ~ 22 nm. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy revealed shifts in key vibrational bands, indicating electrostatic and coordination bonding between the polymer and metal oxide. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed combined spectral features of both components, with redshifted π–π* transitions due to π–d interactions and a reduced optical band gap of ~ 2.09 eV for PCZ–V2O5 nanocomposites. Current–voltage (J–V) measurements showed a ~ 131% increase in current density for the PCZ–V2O5 composite compared to pure PCZ under illumination condition. The increased current density and reduced optical band gap indicate improved electrical and optical performance, positioning PCZ–V2O5 nanocomposites as promising electron transport layer (ETL) materials for OLEDs. This study highlights the synergistic integration of PCZ and V2O5, producing nanocomposites with markedly enhanced optoelectronic properties, which are systematically investigated for the novel exploration of their suitability as ETL materials in OLED applications.