Improving charge transport of P3HT:PCBM organic solar cell using MoO3 nanoparticles as an interfacial buffer layer

Abstract

In this work, P3HT:PCBM based organic solar cells (OSCs) were fabricated. We investigated the protection of PEDOT:PSS from active layer using the solution processed molybdenum oxide nanoparticles layer (MoO3 NPs, ≤100 nm). The device structure was ITO/ZnO/P3HT: PCBM/MoO3/PEDOT:PSS/Ag. A thin film MoO3 NPs was spin-coated and it acts as a hole transporting layer between the active layer and PEDOT:PSS. The MoO3 NPs based device showed an improved short circuit current compared without MoO3 NP layer. The pristine OSCs showed short circuit current density (Jsc) of 11.56 mA/cm2 and PCE of 3.70% under AM 1.5G (100 mW/cm2). MoO3 NPs based device showed an increased PCE of 4.11% with Jsc of 12.74 mA/cm2. MoO3 NPs also decreased the charge recombination and resistance of the OSCs.