Hybrid silver/silver-oxide nanoparticles doped hole transport layer for efficient photon harvesting in organic solar cells

Plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) are employed in this investigation to assist in the enhancement of photon harvest in organic solar cells (OSCs). OSCs based on the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were prepared by incorporating hybrid silver/silver-oxide (Ag/Ag2O) NPs in the commonly used hole transport layer (HTL), PEDOT:PSS, in a conventional device geometry. The conductivity of PEDOT: PSS was improved by 3 wt% Ag/Ag2O NP doping. The optical absorption and aggregation of P3HT in the active layer film were also found to be improved when Ag/Ag2O NPs were incorporated in PEDOT: PSS. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency of the P3HT: PCBM-based OSCs was improved from 3.06 to 5.20% upon the incorporation of 3 wt% Ag/Ag2O in the HTL. This enormous improvement is mainly attributed to a significant increment in J(SC) due to the synergistic improvement in exciton generation, exciton dissociation, charge collection, and dissociation probability in the device due to localized surface Plasmon resonance and scattering by the NPs.

Automated summary

Plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) were used to enhance photon harvest in organic solar cells (OSCs). By incorporating hybrid silver/silver-oxide (Ag/Ag2O) NPs in the hole transport layer (HTL) PEDOT:PSS, OSCs based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) showed improved conductivity, optical absorption, aggregation, and power conversion efficiency. The significant improvement in the power conversion efficiency was attributed to the synergistic enhancement in exciton generation, dissociation, charge collection, and dissociation probability.