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Performance improvement of P3HT/TiO{sub 2} coaxial heterojunction polymer solar cells by introducing a CdS interface modifier

Journal Article · · Journal of Solid State Chemistry
 [1];  [1]; ;  [1];  [2]
  1. Key Laboratory of Atomic and Molecular Physics and Functional Materials of Gansu Province, College of Physics and Electronic Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070 (China)
  2. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730070 (China)

Coaxial heterojunction polymer solar cells consisting of vertical aligned crystalline TiO{sub 2} nanotube arrays transferred onto FTO-coated glass and ordered interpenetrating poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) have been fabricated through interface sensitization of CdS quantum dots on TiO{sub 2} nanotube walls. The performances of structurally identical polymer solar cells with and without CdS quantum dots sensitization were investigated and compared. The sensitized P3HT/CdS-TiO{sub 2} cell demonstrated an open-circuit photovoltage of 0.72 V and a short-circuit current of 8.29 mA/cm{sup 2} while the P3HT/TiO{sub 2} cell was 0.41 V and 5.64 mA/cm{sup 2}. The efficiency of this sensitized cell represents a more than four-fold improvement compared to the non-sensitized cell. By probing the charge transport characteristics at interfaces and the mechanism of photoelectric conversion, it is found the moderately interfacial CdS QDs plays the role of assisting charge separation and suppression of back recombination at interfaces, which accounts for the observed enhanced J{sub sc} and V{sub oc} in photovoltaic performance. - Graphical abstract: Schematic illustration of the Au/P3HT/CdS-TiO{sub 2}/FTO coaxial heterojunction polymer solar cell and its photovoltaic property compared with Au/P3HT/TiO{sub 2}/FTO cell. Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer CdS QDs sensitized P3HT/TiO{sub 2} solid coaxial heterojunction solar cells are fabricated. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The V{sub oc} of such sensitized polymer solar cell reaches the value as high as 0.72 V. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer 4.5 times higher PCE obtains as compared with the non-sensitized cell. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The dominate roles of CdS QDs sensitization on the PCE enhancement are investigated.

OSTI ID:
22149953
Journal Information:
Journal of Solid State Chemistry, Journal Name: Journal of Solid State Chemistry Vol. 196; ISSN 0022-4596; ISSN JSSCBI
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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