Efficiency Enhancement in Hybrid P3HT/Silicon Nanocrystal Solar Cells
-
Sabrina Niesar
,
Wolfgang Fabian
Abstract
Hybrid organic-inorganic solar cells from poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and freestanding silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) combine the advantages of silicon-based photovoltaics with the cost-efficient solution processing technique. At present, the microwave-plasma synthesis of Si-ncs that allows for a future upscaling to industrial demands is at the expense of the Si-nc surface quality and the number of charge-trapping defects. Here, we present an enhancement of the solar cell performance by identifying the major factors which are limiting the device efficiency. With the help of low-cost post-growth treatments of the Si-ncs and the optimization of various device parameters, P3HT:Si-ncs bulk heterojunction solar cells with an efficiency up to 1.1% are achieved. In particular, etching of the Si-ncs with hydrofluoric acid to remove the surface oxide shells and surface defects has a strong impact on the solar cell performance. An intermediate Si weight ratio of around 60% is found to lead to the highest current densities. For Si-ncs with very small diameters, an additional enhancement of the open circuit voltage was observed. Moreover, we show that the structural order of P3HT has a strong influence on the efficiency, which can be explained by an improved charge carrier separation at the P3HT/Si-ncs interface in combination with an enhanced charge transport in the P3HT phase.
Copyright © 2011 De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Notice from the Editorial Office
- Short Reports
- Zero-Emission Power Generation – Fuel Cells Are Coming, But Still Facing Obstacles in Germany
- Toward Visible Light Response: Overall Water Splitting Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysts
- Pitch Carbon-coated Lithium Sulfide Electrode for Advanced, Lithium-metal Free-sulfur Batteries
- Effect of Gap Position in Broken V-rib Roughness Combined with Staggered Rib on Thermohydraulic Performance of Solar Air Heater
- Efficiency Enhancement in Hybrid P3HT/Silicon Nanocrystal Solar Cells
- A Substitute for Gasoline – With a Carbon Neutral Character
- Sustainable Development of Green Energy Technologies in the Republic of Sudan
- Formation and Characterisation of Solution Processed “Pseudo-Bilayer” Organic Solar Cells – GREEN, 2011, Vol. 1, Number 3-4, pp. 291–298
- Future Conferences on Sustainable Energy Science and Policy 2012
Articles in the same Issue
- Notice from the Editorial Office
- Short Reports
- Zero-Emission Power Generation – Fuel Cells Are Coming, But Still Facing Obstacles in Germany
- Toward Visible Light Response: Overall Water Splitting Using Heterogeneous Photocatalysts
- Pitch Carbon-coated Lithium Sulfide Electrode for Advanced, Lithium-metal Free-sulfur Batteries
- Effect of Gap Position in Broken V-rib Roughness Combined with Staggered Rib on Thermohydraulic Performance of Solar Air Heater
- Efficiency Enhancement in Hybrid P3HT/Silicon Nanocrystal Solar Cells
- A Substitute for Gasoline – With a Carbon Neutral Character
- Sustainable Development of Green Energy Technologies in the Republic of Sudan
- Formation and Characterisation of Solution Processed “Pseudo-Bilayer” Organic Solar Cells – GREEN, 2011, Vol. 1, Number 3-4, pp. 291–298
- Future Conferences on Sustainable Energy Science and Policy 2012
