Hole transit in P3HT:PCBM solar cells with embedded gold nanoparticles

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 121; pp. 80 - 84
• Main Authors: Cheng, Cheng-En, Pei, Zingway, Hsu, Chia-Chen, Chang, Chen-Shiung, Shih-Sen Chien, Forest
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.02.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Collection; Contact resistance; Current density; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Fermi surfaces; Gold; Gold nanoparticles; Hole transit; Impedance spectroscopy; Nanoparticles; Natural energy; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Polymer solar cells; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Impedance spectroscopy; Hole transit; Gold nanoparticles; Polymer solar cells; Performance evaluation; Electron-hole recombination; Fullerene compounds; Nanoparticle; Conversion rate; Depletion layer; Contact resistance; Organic solar cells; Butyric acid; Ester; Thiophene derivative polymer; Energy conversion; Electrical characteristic; Electrical impedance; Gold; Hole transport layer; Short circuit currents; Electrical properties; Active layer; Open circuit voltage; Solar cell; Electrical measurement; Diversity combining; High efficiency; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.017

The electrical properties of polymer solar cells (PSCs) with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) embedded in the hole transport layers (HTLs) were investigated. The PSCs with AuNP-embedded HTLs exhibited 8%, 9.5%, and 22% enhancement in short-circuit current density, open-circuit voltage, and power conversion efficiency, respectively. The low contact resistance at the active layer/HTL interface resulted in the high collection efficiency and low electron–hole recombination. The downshift of the Fermi energy in AuNP-embedded HTLs lowered the energy barrier and thinned the depletion layer at the active layer/HTL interface, accounting for the enhanced collection efficiency. •Polymer solar cells with AuNP-embedded HTLs exhibit enhancement in Jsc, Voc, and PCE.•Embedment of AuNPs results in the downshift of the Fermi energy of HTLs.•Low contact resistance at active layer/HTL interfaces accounts for the high collection efficiency.