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Title: Silver nanowires enhance absorption of poly(3-hexylthiophene)

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4829623· OSTI ID:22254058
; ; ; ;  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Optics of Hybrid Nanostructures Group, Institute of Physics, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Grudziadzka 5, 87-100 Torun (Poland)
  2. Organic Semiconductor Centre, SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 9SS (United Kingdom)

Results of optical spectroscopy reveal strong influence of plasmon excitations in silver nanowires on the fluorescence properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which is one of the building blocks of organic solar cells. For the structure where a conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) was used as a spacer in order to minimize effects associated with non-radiative energy transfer from P3HT to metallic nanoparticles, we demonstrate over two-fold increase of the fluorescence intensity. Results of time-resolved fluorescence indicate that the enhancement of emission intensity can be attributed to increased absorption of P3HT. Our findings are a step towards improving the efficiency of organic solar cells through incorporation of plasmonic nanostructures.

OSTI ID:
22254058
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 103, Issue 20; Other Information: (c) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English