Correlation of nanoscale organizations of polymer and nanocrystals in polymer/inorganic nanocrystal bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cells: insights from multiscale molecular simulations

In this work, the development of solution-processed bulk heterojunction hybrid solar cells based on CdSe quantum dot (QD) and conjugated polymer poly [2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b;3,4-b] dithiophene)-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)], PCPDTBT was performed. The photoactive layer was formed by integrating CdSe QDs onto multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs). A simple method of thiol functionalization in the interface CNTs and CdSe QDs has been investigated. Integration of CNTs enhances long-term performance of solar cells devices. Initial PCE values of about 1.9 % under AM1.5G illumination have been achieved for this hybrid CNT-CdSe photovoltaic device. In addition, the long-term stability of the photovoltaic performance of the devices was investigated and found superior to CdSe QD only based devices. About 84 % of the initial PCE remained after storage in a glove box for one year without any further encapsulation. It is concluded that the improvement is mainly due to a strong binding between thiol functionalized CNTs and CdSe QDs, resulting preservation of the nanomorphology of the hybrid film over time.

Download Full-text

Hybrid Solar Cells with Bulk Heterojunction Between Conjugated Polymer and PbS Nanocrystals

ECS Meeting Abstracts ◽

10.1149/ma2010-01/36/1648 ◽

2010 ◽

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Conjugated Polymer ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Hybrid Solar Cells ◽

Pbs Nanocrystals

Download Full-text

Electronic interactions of silicon nanocrystals and nanocarbon materials: Hybrid solar cells

Pure and Applied Chemistry ◽

10.1351/pac-con-12-01-12 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 84 (12) ◽

pp. 2629-2639 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Vladimir Švrček ◽

Davide Mariotti

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Energy Conversion ◽

Silicon Nanocrystals ◽

Large Scale ◽

Energy Gap ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Hybrid Solar Cells ◽

Exciton Dissociation ◽

Electronic Interactions ◽

Nanocarbon Materials

Hybrid inorganic/nanocarbon solar cells represent low-cost solutions for the large-scale manufacturing of energy conversion devices. Here we discuss results that relate to the electronic interactions of nanocarbon materials with freestanding and surfactant-free silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) with quantum confinement effects, integrated in bulk-heterojunction solar cells. In particular, we demonstrate the feasibility of bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic solar cells that consist of Si-ncs combined with fullerenes or with semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs). We show that the energy levels between Si-ncs with energy gap exceeding 1.75 eV and fullerenes are adequate for exciton dissociation and carriers (electrons/holes) generation and that hybrid solar cells formed by Si-ncs and semi-conducting SWCNTs favor exciton dissociation only when a distinct chiral index [i.e., (7,5)] is used. While fullerenes show energy conversion capabilities in the visible spectral region (1.7–3.1 eV), the cells containing the SWCNTs, in comparison, have a considerably expanded optical response covering a broad range of the spectrum (0.9–3.1 eV).

Download Full-text

The Effect of Structural Properties of Cu2Se/Polyvinylcarbazole Nanocomposites on the Performance of Hybrid Solar Cells

Journal of Nanomaterials ◽

10.1155/2016/9592189 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

S. Govindraju ◽

N. Ntholeng ◽

K. Ranganathan ◽

M. J. Moloto ◽

L. M. Sikhwivhilu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Polymer Nanocomposites ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Short Circuit ◽

Semiconductor Nanocrystals ◽

Polymer Nanocomposite ◽

Short Circuit Current ◽

Open Circuit ◽

Colloidal Synthesis ◽

Hybrid Solar Cells

It has been said that substitution of fullerenes with semiconductor nanocrystals in bulk heterojunction solar cells can potentially increase the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of these devices far beyond the 10% mark. However new semiconductor nanocrystals other than the potentially toxic CdSe and PbS are necessary. Herein we report on the synthesis of Cu2Se nanocrystals and their incorporation into polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) to form polymer nanocomposites for use as active layers in hybrid solar cells. Nearly monodispersed 4 nm Cu2Se nanocrystals were synthesized using the conventional colloidal synthesis. Varying weight % of these nanocrystals was added to PVK to form polymer nanocomposites. The 10% polymer nanocomposite showed retention of the properties of the pure polymer whilst the 50% resulted in a complete breakdown of the polymeric structure as evident from the FTIR, TGA, and SEM. The lack of transport channels in the 50% polymer nanocomposite solar cell resulted in a device with no photoresponse whilst the 10% polymer nanocomposite resulted in a device with an open circuit voltage of 0.50 V, a short circuit current of 7.34 mA/cm2, and a fill factor of 22.28% resulting in a PCE of 1.02%.

Download Full-text

Bulk heterojunction perovskite hybrid solar cells with large fill factor

Energy & Environmental Science ◽

10.1039/c5ee00222b ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 1245-1255 ◽

Cited By ~ 182

Author(s):

Kai Wang ◽

Chang Liu ◽

Pengcheng Du ◽

Jie Zheng ◽

Xiong Gong

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Charge Carrier ◽

Fill Factor ◽

Bulk Heterojunction ◽

Hybrid Solar Cells ◽

Device Structure ◽

Heterojunction Device ◽

Carrier Extraction

A bulk heterojunction device structure was developed to address the unbalanced charge carrier extraction efficiencies in perovskite hybrid solar cells.

Download Full-text