Effect of Light Irradiation on the Diffusion Rate of the Charge Carrier Hopping Mechanism in P3HT–ZnO Nanoparticles Studied by μ+SR

Eka Pratikna,Risdiana Risdiana,Isao Watanabe,Suci Winarsih,Nowo Riveli,Budi Adiperdana,Dita Puspita Sari,Lusi Safriani,Annisa Aprilia

doi:10.3390/en14206730

Eka Pratikna, Risdiana Risdiana + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en14206730

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Oct 16, 2021
License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Padjadjaran University, RIKEN Nishina Center

Abstract

Blended regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles are a hybrid material developed as an active layer for hybrid solar cells. The study of the hopping mechanisms and diffusion rates of regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles is significant for obtaining intrinsic charge transport properties that provide helpful information for preparing high-performance solar cells. The temperature dependences of the parallel and perpendicular diffusion rates in regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles determined from muon spin relaxation measurements were investigated by applying various longitudinal fields. We investigated the effect of light irradiation on the diffusion rates in regio-regular P3HT–ZnO nanoparticles. We found that with increasing temperature, the parallel diffusion rate decreased, while the perpendicular diffusion rate increased. The ratio of the parallel to perpendicular diffusion rate (D‖/D⊥) can be used to indicate the dominant charge carrier hopping mechanism. Without light irradiation, perpendicular diffusion dominates the charge carrier hopping, starting at 25 K, with a ratio of 1.70×104, whereas with light irradiation, the perpendicular diffusion of the charge carrier starts to dominate at the temperature of 10 K, with a ratio of 2.40×104. It is indicated that the additional energy from light irradiation affects the diffusion, especially the charge diffusion in the perpendicular direction.

Highlights

Photovoltaic solar cells are very promising devices for development as a tool for converting solar energy into electrical energy
Dk decreased with increasing temperature, while D⊥ was observed starting from 25 K and increased with increasing temperature
With light irradiation, the D⊥ observed from 10 K indicated that the additional energy from light irradiation affected the diffusion, especially the charge diffusion in the perpendicular direction

Summary

Introduction

Photovoltaic solar cells are very promising devices for development as a tool for converting solar energy into electrical energy. The materials developed as photovoltaic materials consist of organic, inorganic, and hybrid materials. Each of these materials has its own unique characteristics and its own advantages and disadvantages. Organic solar cells exhibit great advantages, such as lightweightedness, allowing easy fabrication, and low cost. Their power conversion efficiency (PCE) is still lower than that of inorganic solar cells. Among organic materials, conjugated polymer materials have been widely used as active materials in solar cell devices. In addition to PCE, organic-based solar cell devices still have some deficits in their performance, such as weak absorption at visible wavelengths, poor charge transport, and low stability [5]. To overcome the various deficits of organic solar cells and to improve their performance, many researchers have developed solar cells with materials derived from combinations of organic and inorganic materials known as hybrid solar cells [10]

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