Pulsed laser generation of novel nanomaterials for organic electronics

Summary form only given. This paper will present our recent work on the application of pulsed laser processing for the synthesis and functionalization of new types of nanomaterials for organic electronic applications. Rapid and facile methodologies for the photochemical reduction [1], functionalization and doping of graphene oxide (GO) sheets, based on pulsed laser irradiation of GO in liquid or gas media, will be demonstrated. In particular, we first report on the first reduction technique, compatible with flexible, temperature sensitive substrates, for the production of flexible GO electrodes. It is based on the use of femtosecond laser irradiation for the in-situ, non-thermal, reduction of spin coated GO films on flexible substrates over a large area. Furthermore, we present a simple photochemical method for the simultaneous reduction and doping of GO sheets through pulsed UV laser irradiation of GO in liquid or gas media. Using this technique Cl and N doping was rapidly carried out at room temperature in only few minutes. Finally we demonstrate the pulse UV laser-assisted photochemical functionalization of GO with small molecules as an efficient technique to realize polymeric electron acceptors. Potential applications of pulsed laser synthesized and modified materials in organic electronics, particular to bulk heterojunction organic solar cells are demonstrated and discussed.