Synthesis and organic solar cell application of RNA-nucleobase-complexed CdS nanowires

Ultrathin uracil-complexed CdS nanowires (U-CdS NWs) were synthesized using a facile wet-chemical process and exploited as an effective electron transport layer (ETL) in organic solar cells (OSCs). The U-CdS NW layer acted as a functional interfacial layer between the active organic and inorganic ZnO films; the functional N-H and C=O groups in uracil passivated the ZnO surface defects and CdS provided a favorable energy band alignment, which facilitated electron transportation. As a result, the power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of the OSC with U-CdS NWs was 3.52% (maximum PCE of 3.7%), which was 22% higher than that of an OSCs with bare ZnO. Moreover, OSCs with U-CdS NWs had two times longer storage lifetimes because of the enhanced interfacial quality and the hydrophobic nature of U-CdS NWs. These results demonstrate the potential of U-CdS NWs for enhancing the efficiency and stability of OSCs and represent an important step toward the commercialization of OSCs.