Abstract
In this study, plasmonic nanostructures were examined to enhance the light harvesting of organic thin-film solar cells (OSCs) by multiple surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomena originating from the grating-coupled configuration with a Blu-ray Disc recordable (BD-R)-imprinted aluminum (Al) grating structure and the incorporation of a series of silver nanodisks (Ag NDs). The devices with such a configuration maximize the light utilization inside OSCs via light absorption, light scattering, and trapping via multiple surface plasmon resonances. Different types and sizes of metallic nanoparticles (NPs), i.e., gold nanoparticles (Au NPs), Ag nanospheres (Ag NSs), and Ag NDs, were used, which were blended separately in a PEDOT:PSS hole transport layer (HTL). The device structure comprised of grating-imprinted-Al/P3HT:PCBM/Ag ND:PEDOT:PSS/ITO. Results obtained from the J–V curves revealed that the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of grating-structured Al/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO is 3.16%; this value is ~6% higher than that of a flat substrate. On the other hand, devices with flat Al and incorporated Au NPs, Ag NSs, or Ag NDs in the HTL exhibited PCEs ranging from 3.15% to 3.37%. Furthermore, OSCs with an Al grating substrate were developed by the incorporation of the Ag ND series into the PEDOT:PSS layer. Compared with that of a reference device, the PCEs of the devices increased to 3.32%–3.59% (11%–20% improvement), indicating that the light absorption enhancement at the active layer corresponds to the grating-coupled surface plasmon resonance and localized surface plasmon resonance excitations with strong near-field distributions penetrating into the active layer leading to higher efficiencies and subsequent better current generation.
Highlights
Organic solar cells (OSCs) with a bicontinuous interpenetrating network between a polymer donor and a fullerene acceptor exhibit potential advantages, including lightweight nature, flexibility, feasible large-area devices, and cost-effective roll-to-roll fabrication[1,2,3,4,5]
OSCs based on the imprinted 1-D grating structures were designed and fabricated on an active layer of an organic thin film as the support for an Al electrode, and the Ag ND series were incorporated into the HTL of a BHJ solar cell for improving the light trapping via the multiple plasmonic effects of the grating-structured Al and metal NPs
Photovoltaic performance of solar cells To investigate the effect of different metallic NPs in OSCs, two solar-cell systems based on PEDOT:PSS films containing Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) or Ag NDs-30 with similar resonance plasmonic peaks (i.e., 510 and 520 nm) were prepared, and their multiple plasmonic effect, including metallic NPs in the HTL and Al cathode with a grating structure, was examined
Summary
Organic solar cells (OSCs) with a bicontinuous interpenetrating network between a polymer donor and a fullerene acceptor exhibit potential advantages, including lightweight nature, flexibility, feasible large-area devices, and cost-effective roll-to-roll fabrication[1,2,3,4,5]. OSCs based on the imprinted 1-D grating structures were designed and fabricated on an active layer of an organic thin film as the support for an Al electrode, and the Ag ND series were incorporated into the HTL of a BHJ solar cell for improving the light trapping via the multiple plasmonic effects of the grating-structured Al and metal NPs. The cooperative multiple plasmonic effect exhibits advantages, including broader light absorption enhancement, enhanced exciton generation rate and dissociation efficiency, and increased charge carrier density and lifetime.
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