Low‐Cost Solar Cell Based on a Composite of Silicon Nanowires and a Highly Conductive Nonphotoactive Polymer

Abstract

Hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells based on inorganic-nanowire (NW)/conjugated-polymer composites have been shown to achieve a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1–3 %, which is much lower than theoretically expected. This work addresses the short exciton diffusion lengths in common photoactive polymers with a new solar-cell design that has a PCE of 4.68 % (see scheme; ITO=indium tin oxide, G-PEDOT:PSS=glycerol-doped poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate); E=electropolymerized; a=amorphous).