Plasmon-enhanced solar energy conversion in organic bulk heterojunction photovoltaics
Plasmon-active silver nanoparticle layers were included in solution-processed bulk-heterojunction solar cells. Nanoparticle layers were fabricated using vapor-phase deposition on indium tin oxide electrodes. Owing to the increase in optical electrical field inside the photoactive layer, the inclusion of such particle films lead to increased optical absorption and consequently increased photoconversion at solar-conversion relevant wavelengths. The resulting solar energy conversion efficiency for a bulk heterojunction photovoltaic device of poly(3-hexylthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl C61C61 butyric acid methyl ester was found to increase from 1.3%±0.2%1.3%±0.2% to 2.2%±0.1%2.2%±0.1% for devices employing thin plasmon-active layers. Based on six measurements, the improvement factor of 1.7 was demonstrated to be statistically significant.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; National Science Foundation IGERT Fellowship; USAF MURI Grant
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- OSTI ID:
- 1344969
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA--270-42472
- Journal Information:
- Applied Physics Letters, Journal Name: Applied Physics Letters Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 92; ISSN APPLAB; ISSN 0003-6951
- Publisher:
- American Institute of Physics (AIP)
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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