Improvement of organic solar cell performance by multiple plasmonic excitations using mixed-silver nanoprisms

Three different silver nanoprisms (AgNPrs) were combined and used as light-trapping materials in organic solar cells (OSCs). These mixed AgNPrs (M-AgNPrs) increased the photocarrier generation in the OSCs due to the broadband absorption, which was attributed to mutual multiple plasmonic excitations covering the entire visible light region. The M-AgNPrs were incorporated into a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) hole-transport layer in the OSCs. The UV-vis spectra, atomic force microscope images and current density versus voltage curves of the fabricated devices were recorded at different loading concentrations of the M-AgNPrs. Finite-difference time-domain simulation, impedance spectroscopy, and measurement of incident photon-to-current efficiency of the devices confirmed the effect of the multiple plasmonic excitations. The results suggest that, in an optimum condition, the efficiency of the OSCs loaded with M-AgNPrs was 7.9% higher than the reference OSC. (C) 2021 The Authors. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Automated summary

The study combined three different silver nanoprisms as light-trapping materials in organic solar cells to increase photocarrier generation through multiple plasmonic excitations. Under optimal conditions, the efficiency of the organic solar cells loaded with mixed silver nanoprisms was 7.9% higher than the reference.