Photovoltaic devices using blends of branched CdSe nanoparticles and conjugated polymers

We show that photovoltaic devices fabricated from blends of branched CdSe nanoparticles and a conjugated polymer give improved performance compared with devices made from nanorod/polymer blends. The improvement is consistent with improved electron transport perpendicular to the plane of the film. Solar power conversion efficiencies of 1.8% were achieved under AM1.5 illumination for a device containing 86 wt % of nanoparticles.