Enhancement of polymer solar cell performance under low-concentrated sunlight by 3D surface-engineered silicon nanocrystals

Influence of surface engineering of free standing silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) by an atmospheric-pressure microplasma treatment without using large organic molecules or surfactants on performance of organic solar cells is demonstrated. Namely, conducted surface engineering allows achieving Si-ncs hydrophilicity, enhanced dispersion and carrier transport in water soluble poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene doped by poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS). We present results on a nanocomposite formed by Si-ncs/PEDOT-PSS which has shown to be advantageous for polythieno[3,4-b]thiophenebenzodithiophene (PTB7)/[70]PCBM polymer solar cells under low-concentrated sunlight (<;10 suns). We demonstrate how the presence of stabilized and highly room-temperature photoluminescent Si-ncs allows the enhancement of the PTB7/[70]PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cell performance via the conversion of high energy photons (<;450 nm) into red emission (~680 nm). Presence of luminescent Si-ncs has played a key role in preventing the degradation of PTB7 photoconductive properties via high energy photons.

[1]  V. Švrček,et al.  Surface-engineered silicon nanocrystals. , 2013, Nanoscale.

[2]  Miao Xu,et al.  Enhanced power-conversion efficiency in polymer solar cells using an inverted device structure , 2012, Nature Photonics.

[3]  V. Švrček,et al.  Carriers multiplication in neighboring surfactant-free silicon nanocrystals produced by 3D-surface engineering in liquid medium. , 2012, 2012 38th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.

[4]  V. Švrček,et al.  Enhancement of hybrid solar cell performance by polythieno [3,4-b]thiophenebenzodithiophene and microplasma-induced surface engineering of silicon nanocrystals , 2012 .

[5]  J. Valenta,et al.  Step-like enhancement of luminescence quantum yield of silicon nanocrystals. , 2011, Nature nanotechnology.

[6]  F. Krebs,et al.  Degradation of semiconducting polymers by concentrated sunlight , 2011 .

[7]  Frederik C. Krebs,et al.  Effects of concentrated sunlight on organic photovoltaics , 2010 .

[8]  H. Fujiwara,et al.  Top-down prepared silicon nanocrystals and a conjugated polymer-based bulk heterojunction: Optoelectronic and photovoltaic applications , 2009 .

[9]  F. Krebs,et al.  Stability/degradation of polymer solar cells , 2008 .

[10]  H. Fujiwara,et al.  Improved transport and photostability of poly(methoxy-ethylexyloxy-phenylenevinilene) polymer thin films by boron doped freestanding silicon nanocrystals , 2008 .

[11]  J. C. Muller,et al.  Silicon nanocrystals as light converter for solar cells , 2004 .

[12]  J. Reynolds,et al.  Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) and Its Derivatives: Past, Present, and Future , 2000 .

[13]  N. Billingham.  Polymer degradation and stabilization: N. Grassie and G. Scott Cambridge University Press, £27.50, ISBN 0-521-24961-9 , 1986 .

[14]  W. Hawkins.  Polymer Degradation and Stabilization , 1984 .

[15]  W. Marsden.  I and J , 2012 .