Hybrid structures of porous silicon and conjugated polymers for photovoltaic applications

We report on a novel approach to synthesize hybrid nanostructures of meso porous silicon and conjugated organic polymers that are suitable for solar cell applications. Meso-porous silicon substrates with relatively large pores (similar to 100 nm) have been exploited for electrochemical polymerization of organic monomers, which were introduced into the porous silicon matrices and electropolymerized to create poly-vinyl-carbazole (PVK). We present electrical characteristics of a device having relatively thin films of the hybrid medium, which exhibits a photovoltaic mode of operation. (C) 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim