Luminescent Sr2CeO4 nanocrystals for applications in organic solar cells with conjugated polymers

High energy photons (UV) are not efficiently utilized in the organic solar cells mainly due to the negative impact on long term stability and the high absorption coefficient of flexible substrate and transparent electrodes. Powder of nanocrystalline strontium cerium oxides (Sr2CeO4) was used for fabrication of thin luminescent layers. The down-shifting properties of Sr2CeO4 could improve the stability of organic solar cell without significant losses of short-circuit current. Various design aspects associated with deposition of thin films and their luminescent properties are discussed. The measurement method allowed for determining the down-shifting properties (in the qualitatively way) of fabricated samples which were placed on the top of organic solar cells with the P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.