Graphene-based Polyaniline Nanocomposites and their Applications in Organic Solar Cells

Carbon materials and specially graphene, due to their unique electrical, thermal, mechanical, optical and electrochemical properties have been very popular to combine with other materials and formation of nanocomposites in recent years. Graphene-based polymer nanocomposites are one of the most common polymer-based nanocomposites. They have much better thermal, electrical, mechanical, optical and electrochemical properties than pure substances i.e., polymer and graphene. Polyaniline is a useful conducting polymer that has been widely used in electronic devices, optical and electrochemical applications owing to its low cost, good environmental stability, interesting electroactivity, good electrical conductivity and easy preparation. Carbon-based polyaniline nanocomposites have attracted a great deal of interest due to their new properties or enhanced performance during the past few years. In recent years, synthesis and application of polyaniline/graphene nanocomposites is one of the most important strategies to improve organic solar cell functions. In this review, after a brief introduction on organic solar cells, the properties of polyaniline, carbon materials and graphene, references have been made to the most common types of carbon-based polyaniline nanocomposites, specially polyaniline/graphene. Some of the research done in the last few years is with the aim of designing organic solar cell in order to improve their performance in the past few years.