Synthesis of hybrid solar cells using CdS nanowire array grown on conductive glass substrates

High-density CdS nanowire (NW) arrays were successfully grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates by vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism at a remarkably reduced temperature of similar to 450 degrees C. Bi catalyst layer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) played a major role in the low-temperature synthesis of high-quality US NW arrays. US NWs were defect free single crystalline Wurtzite crystals and they were 50-100 nm and 2-5 mu m in diameter and length, respectively. US NWs were combined with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), a conjugated polymer to form organic-inorganic hybrid structures. The UV-visible light absorption and emission behavior of MEH-PPV/CdS hybrids was investigated and their potential to be used as photovoltaic cells was demonstrated. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.