Conducting polymer and hydrogenated amorphous silicon hybrid solar cells

An organic-inorganic hybrid solar cell with a p-i-n stack structure has been investigated. The p-layer was a spin coated film of PEDOT:PSS [poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly (styrenesulfonate)]. The i-layer was hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), and the n-layer was microcrystalline silicon (mu c-Si). The inorganic layers were deposited on top of the organic layer by the hot-wire chemical vapor deposition technique at 200 degrees C. These hybrid devices exhibited open circuit voltages (V-OC) as large as 0.88 V and solar conversion efficiencies as large as 2.1%. Comparison of these devices with those incorporating a-SiC:H:B p-layers indicates that the organic layer is acting as an electrically ideal p-layer. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.