Plasmon-Enhanced Cell Efficiency in Hybrid Solar Cell Based on CdS Nanorod and Poly (3-Hexythiophene)

Abstract:

A bulk-heterjunction hybrid solar cell based on CdS nanorods as electron acceptor and conjugated polymers P3HT (Poly (3-Hexylthiophene)) as donor was fabricated through solution processing. Plasmon-active silver nanoparticle layers were introduced in the hybrid solar cell. Silver nanoparticle layers were fabricated using thermal evaporation deposition of 10 nm of silver thin layers on indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate followed by annealing. Under the surface plasmon excitation in Ag nanoparticles deposited on a semiconductor surface, increasing optical electrical field inside the photoactive layer led to an increased short circuit current density (Jsc) and improved fill factor (FF) of the cell. Consequently, under AM1.5G illumination (100 mW.cm^-2), the plasmon-decorated cell based on CdS-nanorods/P3HT showed a four-times increase of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) compared with the undecorated one.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 774-776)
• Pages: 753-756
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.774-776.753
• Online since: September 2013
• Authors: Xin Mei Liu, Feng Ming Fu, Wei Min Guo
• Keywords: CDS Nanorods, Hybrid Solar Cell, Silver Nanoparticle, Surface Plasmons

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