Enhancement of the Efficiency of Polymer Solar Cells by Blending Nb/ZnO Nanoparticles into Poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric Acid Methyl Ester

Abstract

Bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells utilizing P3HT:PCBM composite loaded with niobium-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles (Nb/ZnO NPs) produced by flame spray pyrolysis were fabricated. The devices loaded with and without Nb/ZnO NPs were compared. It was found that niobium doping led to a slight increase in open circuit voltage and an increase in short-circuit current. The effect of co-solvent (1,3,5-trichlorobenzene; TCB) in chlorobenzene in the polymer solution was also investigated on the morphology and performance of a P3HT:PCBM and P3HT:PCBM:Nb/ZnO bulk-heterojunction solar cells. The device efficiency was improved due to a good quality of the thin film nanostructure and annealing time.

Keywords:

• Conjugated polymer
• flame spray pyrolysis
• niobium-doped zinc oxide
• polymer solar cell
• 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene

Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Royal Thai Government, Ministry of Science and Technology, Thailand; the National Research University Project under Thailand's Office of the Higher Education Commission, The Graduate School, Chiang Mai University, Thailand; The Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Maejo University; and the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, USA.