Charge separation and transport in ZnO nanostructures/Polymer:TiO2 hybrid solar cell

Abstract

This paper aims to propose a 3D nanostructured organic-inorganic hybrid photovoltaic device based on the ZnO nanostructures/poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) :TiO2 nanorods hybrids by solution processes at low temperature. An array of ZnO nanorods with a larger size of ∼50 nm in diameter and ∼180 nm in length are grown to provide direct pathways for efficient charge collection. TiO2 nanorods with a size of ∼5 nm in diameter and ∼20-30 nm in length are incorporated into polymer to facilitate charge separation and transport by providing increased interfacial area and more effective transport pathway. The device performance with the inclusion of TiO2 nanorods exhibits a seven times increase in the short circuit current with respect to that without TiO2 nanorods.