A study on the incorporation of ZnO nanoparticles into MEH-PPV based organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells

Abstract

A conjugated polymer MEH-PPV [poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene)] and ZnO inorganic semiconductor nanoparticles were blended to form bulk heterojunction organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells. The simple photovoltaic device could be fabricated by spin-coating and the architecture was glass/ITO/MEH-PPV/Al or glass/ITO/MEH-PPV:ZnO nanoparticles (0, 5, 20, and 30 wt% to MEH-PPV)/Al. We could obtain the short-circuit current density ( J SC), open-circuit voltage ( V OC), and fill factor (FF) were, respectively, 0.0081 mA/cm 2, 0.606 V, and 17.6% for pristine MEH-PPV as used a single active layer and also 0.0120 mA/cm 2, 0.858 V, and 20.2% for MEH-PPV:30 wt% ZnO nanocomposite as used a hybrid active layer. This enhancement of J SC, V OC, and FF was explained by the preservation of optical quality for hybrid active layer and facile electron injection from the introduction of ZnO semiconductor nanoparticles.