Roles of Interfacial Modifiers in Inorganic Titania/Organic Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Heterojunction Hybrid Solar Cells.

Arumugam Pirashanthan,Punniamoorthy Ravirajan,Dhayalan Velauthapillai,Thirunavukarasu Kajana,Yohi Shivatharsiny,Said Bentouba

doi:10.3390/nano12050820

Arumugam Pirashanthan, Punniamoorthy Ravirajan + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12050820

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Abstract

Hybrid Titanium dioxide/Poly(3-hexylthiophene) heterojunction solar cells have gained research interest as they have the potential to become cost-effective solar technology in the future. Limited power conversion efficiencies of about 5–6% have been reported so far, and an enhancement in efficiency was achieved through the engineering of the interface between Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). Evolution of this solar cell technology is relatively slow-moving due to the complex features of the metal oxide-polymer system and the limited understanding of the technology. In this review, we focus on recent developments in interface modified hybrid Titanium dioxide/Poly(3-hexylthiophene) solar cells, provide a short discussion on the working principle, device structure with interface modifiers, and summarize various types of interface modifiers studied to enhance the photovoltaic performance of hybrid TiO2/P3HT heterojunction solar cells. Further, we discuss the key factors influencing the power conversion efficiency and the role of a variety of interface modifiers in this regard. Finally, the challenges and perspectives related to hybrid TiO2/P3HT heterojunction solar cells are also explored.

Highlights

Molecular electronic materials, such as dyes, conjugated polymers, and small molecules, are gaining much interest for applications in photovoltaics [1,2]
This review focuses on the recent progress witnessed in the field of hybrid Titanium dioxide (TiO2 )/Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) heterojunction solar cells mainly from the point of interface engineering
TiO2/P3HT solar cells with a range of novel organic and inorTables below based on the type of interface modifier and each table is divided into four ganic materials, suchcolumns as self-assembled monolayers, carbonaceous materials, in-modifier is in order to represent the device structure to indicate whereinorganic the interface sulating layers, and small molecule sensitizers

Summary

Introduction

Molecular electronic materials, such as dyes, conjugated polymers, and small molecules, are gaining much interest for applications in photovoltaics [1,2]. 2/P3HT hybrid solar cells and their two major varieties of interface modifications can penetrate through TiO2 and overpenetration of P3HT may lead to contact with transparent electrodeand is crucial a solarofcell in order to transmit the transparentconducting conductive electrode, thefor junction fabricated solar cells will the inc light through itself to the photon absorbing layers. P3HTsummarized nanocomposite withprogress insulating layers and used in interface modified hybrid solar cells with a range of novel organic and inorganic small molecule based absorbing materials, respectively. TiO2/P3HT solar cells with a range of novel organic and inorTables below based on the type of interface modifier and each table is divided into four ganic materials, suchcolumns as self-assembled monolayers, carbonaceous materials, in-modifier is in order to represent the device structure to indicate whereinorganic the interface sulating layers, and small molecule sensitizers. The essence of this analysis will be of interest for researchers in order to understand the

Photovoltaic

Self-Assembled Monolayers (SAMs) as Interface Modifiers

Inorganic Insulating/Semiconducting Layers as Interface Modifiers

Small Molecule Sensitizers as Interface Modifiers

Findings

Summary and Perspectives