Efficient hybrid organic/inorganic photovoltaic cells utilizing n-type pentacene and intrinsic/p-type hydrogenated amorphous silicon

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 95; no. 8; pp. 2407 - 2411
• Main Authors: Chao, Ching-Hsun, Chan, Chien-Hung, Wu, Fu-Chiao, Huang, Jung-Jie, Yang Lien, Shui, Weng, Ko-Wei, Cheng, Horng-Long
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.08.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid solar cells; Inorganic semiconductors; Natural energy; Organic semiconductors; Pentacene; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaic effect; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Organic semiconductors; Pentacene; Photovoltaic effect; Inorganic semiconductors; Hybrid solar cells; Performance evaluation; Scanning electron microscopy; Exciton; Electron transport layer; Conversion rate; Organic solar cells; X ray diffraction; Photovoltaic cell; Solar cell; Thickness; Absorption spectrometry; Organic-inorganic hybrid materials; p type semiconductor; Amorphous hydrogenated material; Energy conversion; n type semiconductor; Electrical characteristic
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2011.04.014

We demonstrate efficient hybrid inorganic/organic p–i–n photovoltaic (PV) devices with a p-type-doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), intrinsic a-Si:H, and an organic semiconductor, pentacene. The correlation between the electrical properties of the PV devices and the morphological properties of the pentacene films were investigated using absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy. The maximum power conversion efficiency can be increased by one order with respect to the devices using different thicknesses of a pentacene layer from 0.32% at 10 nm to above 3.0% at 30 nm. Photocarriers in PVs are suggested to be mainly generated in the intrinsic a-Si:H layer. The pentacene layer is used as the exciton-blocking and electron-transport layer. Thus, the structural quality of pentacene films plays an important role in PV performance. [Display omitted] . ► We demonstrate efficient hybrid p– i– n solar cells by combing a-Si:H and pentacene. ► Photovoltaic properties depend on the structural quality of pentacene layer. ► The pentacene layer is used as the exciton-blocking and electron-transport layer. ► The power conversion efficiency was over 3.0% when using 30 nm pentacene films.