A study of the influence of plasmonic resonance of gold nanoparticle doped PEDOT: PSS on the performance of organic solar cells based on CuPc/C60

Abstract

This work studied the role of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) with different spherical sizes mixed with poly (3, 4-ethylene dioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) as a hole transfer layer to enhance the efficiency (ITO/PEDOT:PSS (AuNPs)/CuPc/C60/Al) organic photovoltaic cell (OPV). AuNPs were synthesized using the thermochemical method and the results of the transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed that the gold nanoparticles mostly dominated by spherical shapes and sizes were calculated in the range (12–23 nm). Measurements of UV-VIS spectra for AuNPs have shown that the surface plasmon resonance shifted to a higher wavelength with decreasing the particle size. Surface morphology and absorption spectra of OPV cells were studied using atomic force microscope and UV-VIS spectrometer techniques. The efficiency of the OPV cell was calculated without and with AuNPs. Efficiency was increased from 0.78% to 1.02% due to the embedded of AuNPs with (12 nm) in PEDOT/PSS. The increase in the light absorption in CuPc is due to the good transparent conducting of PEDOT:PSS and the increase in the electric field around AuNPs embedded in PEDOT:PSS and inbuilt electric field at the interfacial between CuPc and C60 is due to the surface plasmon resonance of AuNPs. The increase in these two factors increase the exciton generation in CuPc, dissociation at the interfacial layer, and charge carrier transfer which increases the collection of electrons and holes at cathode and anode.

ZnO nanostructured materials for emerging solar cell applications

“…By modifying the size of a nanomaterial, it is possible to change and tune their band absorption. 127 In 2015, plasmonic Ag nanocubes were introduced to the PbS:ZnO NW solar cell for further improvement in its performances, particularly in the infrared and visible light region because of the plasmonic enhancement of light absorption in the range of 700-1200 nm. 128 As a result, the PCE improved from 4.45% to 6.03% aer the addition of Ag nanocubes at 25% coverage.…”

Spiky Durian-Shaped Au@Ag Nanoparticles in PEDOT:PSS for Improved Efficiency of Organic Solar Cells

“…Moreover, Au NPs are characterized by high conductivity and biocompatibility, and they can improve the sensitivity and stability of devices and the facilitation of accepted electron transfer towards the electrode [ 17 , 18 ]. Several metal nanostructures have been functionalized to significantly augment the enhancement of light absorption, such as the composite NPs with different metals [ 19 , 20 , 21 ], Au nonspherical [ 22 ] and nanorods [ 23 ], Au nanostars [ 24 ], Ag with multiple-shaped [ 25 ], truncated octahedral [ 26 ], decahedral/icosahedron Ag NPs [ 27 ], mixing of the Au and Ag NPs [ 28 ], Au NPs with graphene shell (Au NPs@Gr) [ 29 ], rough-surface Au@Ag core-shell NPs (RSAu@Ag NPs) [ 30 ], Au@Ag nanocube (NC) [ 31 ], and durian-shaped Au@Ag NPs (numerous pointed spikes) [ 32 ]. The PCE of OSCs embedded with durian-shaped Au@Ag NPs is more enhanced than that of OSCs fabricated with composite Au@Ag NPs, due to the integrative impact of Au NPs’ strong spectral response and Ag NPs’ high scattering power at the long-wavelength range.…”

Light Scattering Calculations for Spherical Metallic Nanoparticles (Ag, Au) Coated by TCO (AZO, ITO, PEDOT:PSS) Shell

“…Therefore, the exploitation of LSPR of Ag and Au nanostructures is one of the key approaches to increase the optical absorption, by light trapping, in thin film Si solar cells, organic solar cells, and new-generation solar cells [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 13 , 14 ]. So, several schemes for functional devices incorporating plasmonic Ag and Au nanoparticles were recently proposed [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. Generally, this can be achieved by the scattering of light, by the metal nanoparticles, at the cell’s interfaces, either by transmission at the top interfaces or by reflection at the rear ones [ 34 ].…”

“…For specific resulting performances, so, the system needs to be geometrically optimized to maximize scattering and minimize light absorption within the metal nanoparticles across the wavelength range of interest. In solar cell applications, the Ag or Au nanoparticles are usually supported on or embedded in a thin transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. TCOs are widely used as transparent electrodes for a variety of solar cell devices [ 35 ].…”