Solution-processed zinc oxide nanoparticles as interlayer materials for inverted organic solar cells
Journal
Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells
Journal Volume
108
Pages
156-163
Date Issued
2013
Author(s)
Ibrahem, Mohammed Aziz
Wei, Hung-Yu
Tsai, Meng-Hung
Ho, Kuo-Chuan
Shyue, Jing-Jong
Abstract
This paper describes inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells featuring solution-processed zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as an electron extraction layer, prepared at relatively low annealing temperatures (≤150°C). A solution of ZnO NPs (average size: 25 nm) was prepared using a wet grinding method. When the ZnO interlayer was present in the solar cell, the vertical phase separation of the active layers prepared with and without solvent annealing exhibited similar gradient concentrations and, therefore, similar photocurrent generation, both of which were superior to those of conventional devices incorporating a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonic acid) (PEDOT:PSS) hole extraction layer. We attribute this vertical phase separation to the similar surface energies of the fullerene derivative and the ZnO interlayer. Under simulated air mass (AM) 1.5 G illumination at 100 mW cm-2, the power conversion efficiency of the optimized device was approximately 4%. © 2012 Elsevier B.V.
SDGs
Type
journal article