Hybrid solar cells from P3HT and silicon nanocrystals

Nano Lett. 2009 Jan;9(1):449-52. doi: 10.1021/nl8034338.

Abstract

We are reporting new hybrid solar cells based on blends of silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) and poly-3(hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer in which a percolating network of the nanocrystals acts as the electron-conducting phase. The properties of composite Si NCs/P3HT devices made by spin-coating Si NCs and P3HT from a common solvent were studied as a function of Si NC size and Si NC/P3HT ratio. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are observed to depend on the Si NC size due to changes in the bandgap and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Under simulated one-sun A.M. 1.5 direct illumination (100 mW/cm2), devices made with 35 wt % Si NCs 3-5 nm in size showed 1.15% power conversion efficiency.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Computer-Aided Design
  • Crystallization / methods
  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Energy Transfer
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Light
  • Macromolecular Substances / chemistry
  • Materials Testing
  • Molecular Conformation
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / radiation effects
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Organoselenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Organoselenium Compounds / radiation effects
  • Particle Size
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Silicon / chemistry*
  • Silicon / radiation effects
  • Solar Energy*
  • Surface Properties

Substances

  • Macromolecular Substances
  • Organoselenium Compounds
  • poly(3-hexyl)selenophene
  • Silicon