Solution-processed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle thin film aligned by an external magnetostatic field as a hole extraction layer for polymer solar cells

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Oct 23;5(20):10325-30. doi: 10.1021/am4033179. Epub 2013 Oct 8.

Abstract

We report, for the first time, the effect of a solution-processed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) thin film and a Fe3O4 MNP thin film aligned by an external magnetostatic field, used as a hole extraction layer (HEL), respectively, in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The thin film of a Fe3O4 MNP shows a smoother surface, better transparency, and higher electrical conductivity than that of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin layer. Moreover, the thin film of a Fe3O4 MNP aligned by an external magnetostatic field possesses an enhanced electrical conductivity and lower internal series resistance, thus leading to greater than 13% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency of PSCs than those using a PEDOT:PSS thin film. It was also found that PSCs incorporated with a Fe3O4 MNP shows better stability compared with those using PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer. These results demonstrated that utilization of a Fe3O4 MNP as a HEL in PSCs blazes a trail to achieve highly efficient and long-time-stable devices.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Conductivity
  • Electrodes
  • Electrolytes / chemistry
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide / chemistry*
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Polymers / chemistry*
  • Polystyrenes / chemistry
  • Solar Energy*
  • Solutions / chemistry
  • Thiophenes / chemistry

Substances

  • Electrolytes
  • Magnetite Nanoparticles
  • Polymers
  • Polystyrenes
  • Solutions
  • Thiophenes
  • poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate)
  • Ferrosoferric Oxide