Enhanced performances of hybrid polymer solar cells with p-methoxybenzoic acid modified zinc oxide nanoparticles as an electron acceptor

Abstract

Enhanced performances of hybrid polymer solar cells based on a blend of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and p-methoxybenzoic acid (MBA) modified zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles were reported. Both the short-circuit current and open-circuit voltage of solar cells were improved by using MBA modified ZnO nanoparticles as electron acceptor. The overall power conversion efficiency was increased from 1.09% to 1.52% under AM 1.5 G 100 mW/cm 2 illumination after ZnO was modified with MBA at 0.1 wt.%. It was found that modification of ZnO with 0.1 wt.% of MBA did not affect electron and hole transport properties of the active layer. However, a fine phase separation between MEH-PPV donor and MBA-modified ZnO acceptor was obtained. The fine phase separation enhanced the exciton dissociation efficiency and hence the power conversion efficiency of solar cells.