scholarly journals Polymer/Fullerene Blend Solar Cells with Cadmium Sulfide Thin Film as an Alternative Hole-Blocking Layer

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murugathas Thanihaichelvan ◽  
Selvadurai Loheeswaran ◽  
Kailasapathy Balashangar ◽  
Dhayalan Velauthapillai ◽  
Punniamoorthy Ravirajan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Cadmium Sulfide ◽  
Layer Thickness ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Charge Recombination ◽  
Blocking Layer ◽  
Hole Blocking Layer

In this work, chemical bath-deposited cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin films were employed as an alternative hole-blocking layer for inverted poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction solar cells. CdS films were deposited by chemical bath deposition and their thicknesses were successfully controlled by tailoring the deposition time. The influence of the CdS layer thickness on the performance of P3HT:PCBM solar cells was systematically studied. The short circuit current densities and power conversion efficiencies of P3HT:PCBM solar cells strongly increased until the thickness of the CdS layer was increased to ~70 nm. This was attributed to the suppression of the interfacial charge recombination by the CdS layer, which is consistent with the lower dark current found with the increased CdS layer thickness. A further increase of the CdS layer thickness resulted in a lower short circuit current density due to strong absorption of the CdS layer as evidenced by UV-Vis optical studies. Both the fill factor and open circuit voltage of the solar cells with a CdS layer thickness less than ~50 nm were comparatively lower, and this could be attributed to the effect of pin holes in the CdS film, which reduces the series resistance and increases the charge recombination. Under AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW/cm2) conditions, the optimized PCBM:P3HT solar cells with a chemical bath deposited a CdS layer of thickness 70 nm and showed 50% power conversion efficiency enhancement, in comparison with similar solar cells with optimized dense TiO2 of 50 nm thickness prepared by spray pyrolysis.

scholarly journals Enhanced Power Conversion Efficiency of P3HT : PC71BM Bulk Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells by Doping a High-Mobility Small Organic Molecule

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanyu Wang ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Pu Fan ◽  
Xin Yang ◽  
Junsheng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
High Mobility ◽  
Short Circuit Current

The effect of molecular doping with TIPS-pentacene on the photovoltaic performance of polymer solar cells (PSCs) with a structure of ITO/ZnO/poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) : [6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) : TIPS-pentacene/MoOx/Ag was systematically investigated by adjusting TIPS-pentacene doping ratios ranged from 0.3 to 1.2 wt%. The device with 0.6 wt% TIPS-pentacene exhibited the enhanced short-circuit current and fill factor by 1.23 mA/cm2and 7.8%, respectively, resulting in a maximum power conversion efficiency of 4.13%, which is one-third higher than that of the undoped one. The photovoltaic performance improvement was mainly due to the balanced charge carrier mobility, enhanced crystallinity, and matched cascade energy level alignment in TIPS-pentacene doped active layer, resulting in the efficient charge separation, transport, and collection.

scholarly journals Improved Performance of Ternary Solar Cells by Using BODIPY Triads

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sompit Wanwong ◽  
Weradesh Sangkhun ◽  
Pisist Kumnorkaew ◽  
Jatuphorn Wootthikanokkhan
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Ternary Blend ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Boron Dipyrromethene ◽  
Improved Performance

Two boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY) triads, namely BODIPY-1 and BODIPY-2, were synthesized and incorporated with poly-3-hexyl thiophene: (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) P3HT:PCBM. The photovoltaic performance of BODIPY:P3HT:PCBM ternary solar cells was increased, as compared to the control binary solar cells (P3HT:PCBM). The optimized power conversion efficiency (PCE) of BODIPY-1:P3HT:PCBM was improved from 2.22% to 3.43%. The enhancement of PCE was attributed to cascade charge transfer, an improved external quantum efficiency (EQE) with increased short circuit current (Jsc), and more homogeneous morphology in the ternary blend.

scholarly journals Improving the Performances of Perovskite Solar Cells via Modification of Electron Transport Layer

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mao Jiang ◽  
Qiaoli Niu ◽  
Xiao Tang ◽  
Heyi Zhang ◽  
Haowen Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electron Transport ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Transport Layer ◽  
Electron Transport Layer ◽  
Simple Method ◽  
Film Forming

The commonly used electron transport material (6,6)-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) for perovskite solar cells (PSC) with inverted planar structures suffers from properties such as poor film-forming. In this manuscript, we demonstrate a simple method to improve the film-forming properties of PCBM by doping PCBM with poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-co-benzothiadiazole) (F8BT) as the electron transport layer (ETL), which effectively enhances the performance of CH3NH3PbI3 based solar cells. With 5 wt % F8BT in PCBM, the short circuit current (JSC) and fill factor (FF) of PSC both significantly increased from 17.21 ± 0.15 mA·cm−2 and 71.1 ± 0.07% to 19.28 ± 0.22 mA·cm−2 and 74.7 ± 0.21%, respectively, which led to a power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement from 12.6 ± 0.24% to 15 ± 0.26%. The morphology investigation suggested that doping with F8BT facilitated the formation of a smooth and uniform ETL, which was favorable for the separation of electron-hole pairs, and therefore, an improved performance of PSC.

The effect of methyl ammonium chloride doping for perovskite solar cells on structure, crystallization and power conversion efficiency

2020 ◽  
pp. 2150096
Author(s):  
Jing Gao ◽  
Chujian Liao ◽  
Yanqun Guo ◽  
Difan Zhou ◽  
Zhigang Zeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Surface Defects ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Perovskite Layer

The perovskite membrane with large particle size, uniform coverage and high quality is the prerequisite for the preparation of efficient and stable perovskite solar cells. Various additives have been used to increase the grain size and improve the film morphology and crystal quality. In this paper, methylammonium chloride (MACl) was proposed to obtain high crystalline quality of [Formula: see text] perovskite absorption layer. The results show that the adding ammonium methyl chloride into the precursor of tricationic perovskite not only passivates surface defects to form high-quality and large-grain perovskite films, but also facilitates the formation of pure [Formula: see text]-phase [Formula: see text]. Meanwhile, the designed perovskite precursor solutions were used to fabricate mesoporous perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Owing to the perovskite layer consisting of optimized MACl doping, the short-circuit current density [Formula: see text] of PSCs reaches 23.81 mA/cm2, which is 2.73 mA/cm2 higher than the primary [Formula: see text] based on PSCs. The obtained power conversion efficiency (PCE) increases from 13.67% to 17.59%.

Effect of Crystallinity on the Performance of P3HT/PC70BM/n-Dodecylthiol Polymer Solar Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 136 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nidal Abu-Zahra ◽  
Mahmoud Algazzar
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Crystallization Rate ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Scanning Calorimetry ◽  
Avrami Model

In this research, n-dodecylthiol was added to P3HT/PC70BM polymer solar cells (PSCs) to improve the crystallinity of P3HT and enhance the phase separation of P3HT/PC70BM. Crystallinity of P3HT:PC70BM doped with 0–5% by volume of n-dodecylthiol was measured using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques. Both methods showed improvement in crystallinity, which resulted in improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of polymer solar cells by 33%. In addition, annealing at 150 °C for 30 min showed further improvement in crystallinity with n-dodecylthiol concentration up to 2%. The highest power conversion efficiency of 3.21% was achieved with polymer crystallites size L of 11.2 nm, after annealing at 150 °C for 30 min under a vacuum atmosphere. The smaller crystallite size suggests a shorter path of the charge carriers between P3HT backbones, which could be beneficial to getting a higher short circuit current in the devices made with the additive. Kinetics study of P3HT:PC70BM crystallinity using Avrami model showed a faster crystallization rate (1/t0.5) at higher temperatures.

New Physical and Chemical Treatments to Improve the Quantum Efficiency in Polymer Solar Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Yoshikawa ◽  
Taro Sonobe ◽  
Takashi Sagawa ◽  
Susumu Yoshikawa
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Single Mode ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Microwave Treatment ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit

AbstractThe performance of the devices of bulk heterojunction polymer-based solar cells were investigated by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as light absorption (viz. active) layer, with TiOx as interlayer as follows: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT-PCBM/TiOx/Al [1] through the treatment of microwave irradiation (single mode of 2.45 GHz, 800 W for 1, 2.5, or 5 min). Such treatments enabled to increase the short-circuit current density Jsc (from 4.53 mA cm−2 to 7.27 mA cm−2) and fill factor FF (from 0.41 to 0.66) of the cell, though the open circuit voltage Voc was decreased (from 0.61 V to 0.57 V) along the irradiation. Absorption spectra of P3HT-PCBM blended film before and after the microwave treatment were observed. Shoulders at 550 nm and 600 nm appeared after the irradiation. This result implies that the microcrystallization of P3HT was slightly promoted through the microwave treatment.

Plasmonic-enhanced polymer photovoltaic cells based on Au nanoparticles with wide absorption spectra of 300–1000 nm

2014 ◽  
Vol 2 (43) ◽  
pp. 9303-9310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yupei Zhang ◽  
Jingyu Hao ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
Shufen Chen ◽  
Lianhui Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Absorption Spectra ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Au Nanoparticles ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Photovoltaic Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current

Mixed Au nanoparticles (NPs) with wide absorption spectra of 300–1000 nm and three absorption peaks of 520, 600, and 770 nm are assembled onto the ITO anode in polymer solar cells to significantly improve the power conversion efficiency and short-circuit current by factors of 24.2% and 18.6%.

scholarly journals Natural Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on Highly Ordered TiO2Nanotube Arrays

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Nengqian Pan ◽  
Danhong Li ◽  
Shiwei Lin
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Natural Dyes ◽  
Tropical Region ◽  
Nanotube Arrays ◽  
Dye Sensitized ◽  
Sensitized Solar Cells

The dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have been fabricated using highly ordered TiO2nanotube arrays as photoelectrode and natural dyes as photosensitizers. The natural dyes were extracted from the abundant plants in the tropical region, such asTradescantia zebrina, kapok, and pitaya. The dyes could chemically couple with TiO2nanotubes and effectively convert visible light into electricity in DSSCs. A power conversion efficiency could be achieved up to 0.3% in the solar cell sensitized by the extracts from kapok with a short-circuit current of 0.86 mA/cm2. Furthermore, the influences of the crystal structure of TiO2nanotube arrays on the performance of the natural DSSCs were discussed.

Photovoltaic Characteristics of Hybrid MEH-PPV and TiO2 Nanoparticle Based Organic Solar Cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 667 ◽  
pp. 300-306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fazlinashatul Suhaidah Zahid ◽  
Puteri Sarah Mohamad Saad ◽  
Mohamed Zahidi Musa ◽  
Mohamad Rusop Mahmood
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Power Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Tio2 Nanoparticles ◽  
Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Power Conversion ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Photovoltaic Properties

The photovoltaic properties of organic solar cells based on hybrid poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylen) (MEH-PPV) and anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as a function of TiO2 concentration were investigated. Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles was performed by sol-gel immerses heated method and been used as a filler in MEH-PPV polymer matrix. The hybrid MEH-PPV: TiO2 solar cells exhibited increased in light absorption and power conversion efficiency than the pristine organic solar cell. By further optimizing the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles, the short-circuit current of the hybrid MEH-PPV: TiO2 was reached up to 0.004823 (mA/cm2) and the corresponding power conversion efficiency was 0.000378% was obtained under Air Mass 1.5 illumination which was more than 80% higher compared to the device without TiO2 nanoparticles. This indicates by embedded TiO2 nanoparticles in MEH-PPV matrix encouraging the charge transportation in the active layer of organic solar cells device.

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