Abstract
A route to enhancing the efficiency of organic solar cells (OSCs) is the incorporation of gold (Au) nanoparticles into the hole transport layer poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). The improved performance of OSCs after incorporation of gold nanorods (AuNRs) into the PEDOT:PSS layer has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically. The results reveal that the role of the optical properties of AuNRs has been proven to be minor compared to their electrical properties in the improvement of the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of OSCs. The work-function of AuNRs along with the increased interfacial area between the active layer/PEDOT:PSS after doping is an important factor in enhancing the PCE of OSCs. Simulation of two dimensional electric field distributions using the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method shows a small increment in the absorption spectrum of the active layer after incorporation of AuNRs. An improvement in recombination resistance from impedance spectroscopy study and a reduced ideality factor from the dark current-voltage characteristics of AuNR-doped OSCs demonstrate the progress in efficient internal charge transfer and reduction in recombination mechanism. The overall impact of doping primarily enhances the fill factor of OSCs, which leads to an improvement in efficiency from 1.76 to 2.73%.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 045506 |
Journal | Materials Research Express |
Volume | 1 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 2015 |
Keywords
- FDTD
- Gold nanorods
- Impedance spectroscopy
- Organic solar cell
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Biomaterials
- Surfaces, Coatings and Films
- Polymers and Plastics
- Metals and Alloys