Effect of fullerene doping on electronic and photovoltaic properties of the cubic bicontinuous phase

Abstract

We explored the electrical conductivity and photovoltaic properties of a complex polycatenar liquid crystal that contains a 5,5′-diphenyl-2,2′-bithiophene core and exhibits a nanostructured cubic bicontinuous phase. Owing to their three-dimensional network structures, such materials give rise to continuous conduction channels in three dimensions, minimising the distortions induced by structural defects observed in other liquid crystal phases. Although the pure material doesn't show any photovoltaic behaviour, we found that doping it with fullerenes significantly increases the photocurrent. We also examined the electrical conductivity and charge mobility in the hybrid compound.