Plasmonic Enhancement of Raman Scattering from the Organic Solar Cell Material P3HT/PCBM by Triangular Silver Nanoprisms

Resonance Raman spectra have been obtained for the organic solar cell blend poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl C₆₁-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) at excitation wavelengths ranging from 364 to 633 nm, in both the presence and absence of triangular Ag nanoprisms with varying plasmon resonance frequencies. For ∼35 nm polymer films deposited over nanoprisms, the nanoprisms enhance the sample-averaged Raman scattering intensities by factors of 2–20 depending on wavelength and nanoprism density. The weak blend fluorescence is enhanced by approximately the same factor as the Raman scattering, implying negligible excited-state quenching by the metal. The Raman peak positions and relative intensities are unaffected by the nanoprisms, indicating negligible morphological or chemical changes to the P3HT. The observed Raman enhancements are qualitatively consistent with previously observed enhancements in charge-carrier (positive polaron) yields for P3HT/PCBM deposited over silver nanoprisms.