Issue 46, 2011
From the journal:

Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics

Novel ZnO nanostructured electrodes for higher power conversion efficiencies in polymeric solar cells†

Jon Ajuria,a   Ikerne Etxebarria,a   Eneko Azaceta,b   Ramón Tena-Zaera,b   Nuria Fernández-Montcada,c   Emilio Palomarescd  and  Roberto Pacios*a  

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Microsystems, IKERLAN S. COOP. Goiru Kalea, 2. 20500 Arrasate-Mondragon, Spain
E-mail: rpacios@ikerlan.es

b New Materials Department, Centre for Electrochemical Technologies (CIDETEC), Paseo Miramón, 196, Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain

c Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), Avda. Països Catalans 16, Tarragona, Spain

d Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Avda. Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain

Abstract

1-Dimensional nanostructured ZnO electrodes have been demonstrated to be potentially interesting for their application in solar cells. Herein, we present a novel procedure to control the ZnO nanowire optoelectronic properties by means of surface modification. The nanowire surface is functionalized with ZnO nanoparticles in order to provide an improved contact to the photoactive P3HT:PCBM film that enhances the overall power conversion efficiency of the resulting solar cell. Charge extraction and transient photovoltage measurements have been used to successfully demonstrate that the surface modified nanostructured electrode contributes in enhancing the exciton dissociating ratio and in enlarging the charge lifetime as a consequence of a reduced charge recombination. Under AM1.5G illumination, all these factors contribute to a considerably large increase in photocurrent yielding unusually high conversion efficiencies over 4% and external quantum efficiencies of 87% at 550 nm for commercially available P3HT:PCBM based solar cells. The same approach might be equally used for polymeric materials under development to overcome the record reported efficiencies.

Graphical abstract: Novel ZnO nanostructured electrodes for higher power conversion efficiencies in polymeric solar cells

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/C1CP22830G
Article type
Paper
Submitted
06 Sep 2011
Accepted
26 Sep 2011
First published
17 Oct 2011

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011,13, 20871-20876

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Novel ZnO nanostructured electrodes for higher power conversion efficiencies in polymeric solar cells

J. Ajuria, I. Etxebarria, E. Azaceta, R. Tena-Zaera, N. Fernández-Montcada, E. Palomares and R. Pacios, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2011, 13, 20871 DOI: 10.1039/C1CP22830G

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