Poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanotubes with superior electronic and optical properties

Major disadvantages of organic solar cell materials are limited absorption and weak charge transport. Here, we have synthesized poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanotubes with a tailored combination of regio-random and regio-regular chains by oxidative polymerization technique, to achieve wide range of absorption (400–720 nm) in visible region. Due to regio-regularity, charge transport follows power law behavior instead of Mott’s variable range hopping and the mobility is found to be 2.296 × 10−2 cm2 V−1 s−1, which is comparable to the value reported in the literature. Wide range of absorption and superior charge transport make these nanotubes as important materials in organic photovoltaic applications.