Control over exciton confinement versus separation in composite films of polyfluorene and CdSe nanocrystals

Composite films of polyfluorene derivative poly(9,9-di-(2-ethylhexyl)-fluorenyl-2,7-diyl) and cadmium selenide nanocrystals were investigated using photomodulation spectroscopy exciting only the nanocrystal phase. Efficient charge separation resulting in hole injection into the polymer was observed in films in which the nanocrystals had been stripped of surface trioctylphosphine oxide passivating groups. The resulting induced absorption band centered at 1.2 eV was assigned to bipolarons or π-dimers formed on the polymer in the near vicinity of the polymer/nanocrystal interface. The intensity dependence of this band suggests bimolecular recombination, supporting the interpretation of the band as due to charge separation. The measured wide distribution of lifetimes for the photogenerated states confirms the glassy nature of the polymer.