Abstract
Novel nanocomposites of conducting polymers and mesoporous silicon with pore sizes <50 nm have been successfully fabricated by chemical and electrochemical techniques. The electrochemically infiltrated polymers (polypyrrole, polyaniline, polythiophene) are more homogeneously deposited deep into the nanopores compared to the spin-coated polymer poly(2-methoxy-5-(2-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene). The fluorescent light intensity of as-formed nanocomposites was significantly enhanced after polymer infiltration. The infiltrated polymers likely passivate existing nonradiative channels. Exciton transfer takes place from the porous silicon matrix to the conducting polymers. (C) 2013 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.