Water-soluble polythiophene/nanocrystalline TiO2 solar cells

We report the characteristics of polymer/nanocrystalline solar cells fabricated using an environmentally friendly water-soluble polythiophene and TiO2 in a bilayer configuration. The cells were made by dropping the polymer onto a TiO2 nanocrystalline film and then repeatedly sweeping a clean glass rod across the polymer as it dried. The cevices showed an open circuit voltage of 0.81 V, a short circuit current density of 0.35 mA/cm(2), a fill factor of 0.4, and an energy conversion efficiency of 0.13%. The water-soluble polythiophene showed significant photovoltaic behavior and the potential for use in solar cells. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.