Fabrication and photocurrent generation of multilayer assemblies consisting of silver-nanoparticles, polydiacetylene, and polyions

The fabrication of silver nanoparticle and polydiacetylene nanocrystal multilayer assemblies was successful on indium-tin-oxide transparent electrodes by repeating electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition. Adsorbed amount of silver nanoparticles and polydiacetylene nanocrystals was confirmed by visible absorption spectroscopy. The surface conditions and morphologies of the assemblies were investigated by scanning electron microscopy. In the presence of a sacrificial reagent, these multilayer assemblies generated a stable photocurrent. It has become apparent that polydiacetylene nanocrystals are not also photoexciting material in the present system, but also act as an electron relay or transport material. Therefore, photocurrent generation is assisted under the co-existence of polydiacetylene nanocrystals in the assemblies.