Issue 88, 2015

Efficiency enhancement of organic photovoltaic devices by embedding uncapped Al nanoparticles in the hole transport layer

Abstract

The effects of incorporating uncapped aluminum (Al) nanoparticles (NPs), fabricated by laser ablation in liquid, in the hole transport layer (HTL) of organic photovoltaic devices were systematically investigated. The integration of Al NPs in the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) hole transport layer resulted in 8.7% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency. This improvement can be attributed to a combination of optical and electrical effects. In particular, light trapping inside the photoactive layer takes place due to scattering of the incident light at wide angles by the embedded Al NPs. At the same time, the electrical conductivity of the HTL becomes enhanced, which in effect improves the hole collection and establishes a mobility balance. These findings were supported by spectroscopic analysis and photon-to-electron conversion efficiency measurements of the respective devices.

Graphical abstract: Efficiency enhancement of organic photovoltaic devices by embedding uncapped Al nanoparticles in the hole transport layer

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
16 Jul 2015
Accepted
16 Aug 2015
First published
18 Aug 2015

RSC Adv., 2015,5, 71704-71708

Efficiency enhancement of organic photovoltaic devices by embedding uncapped Al nanoparticles in the hole transport layer

M. Krassas, G. Kakavelakis, M. M. Stylianakis, N. Vaenas, E. Stratakis and E. Kymakis, RSC Adv., 2015, 5, 71704 DOI: 10.1039/C5RA14017J

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