An overview of enhanced polymer solar cells with embedded plasmonic nanoparticles

Alkhalayfeh, Muheeb Ahmad; Aziz, Azlan Abdul; Pakhuruddin, Mohd Zamir

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2021.110726

“…Metallic nanoparticles can improve the optical and electrical properties of polymer solar cells due to the local surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects 16 – 18 . Incorporated nanoparticles interacting with light result in light scattering phenomenon, which in turn can increase the optical absorption of the active layer by increasing the optical path 19 , 20 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles on the charge carrier mobility of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells

Omrani

¹

,

Fallah

²

,

Choy

³

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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The solution processable polymer solar cells have shown a great promise as a cost-effective photovoltaic technology. Here, the effect of carrier mobility changes has been comprehensively investigated on the performance of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells using electro-optical coupled simulation regimes, which may result from the embedding of SiO2@Ag@SiO2 plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) in the active layer. Firstly, the active layer thickness, stemmed from the low mobility of the charge carriers, is optimized. The device with 80 nm thick active layer provided maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.47%. Subsequently, the PCE has increased to 6.75% and 6.5%, respectively, along with the benefit of light scattering, near-fields and interparticle hotspots produced by embedded spherical and cubic nanoparticles. The PCE of the devices with incorporated plasmonic nanoparticles are remarkably enhanced up to 7.61% (for spherical NPs) and 7.35% (for cubic NPs) owing to the increase of the electron and hole mobilities to $${\upmu }_{e}=8\times {10}^{-7} \,{\text{m}}^{2}/\text{V}/\text{s}$$ μ e = 8 × 10 - 7 m 2 / V / s and $${\upmu }_{h}=4\times {10}^{-7} \,{\text{m}}^{2}/\text{V}/\text{s}$$ μ h = 4 × 10 - 7 m 2 / V / s , respectively (in the optimum case). Furthermore, SiO2@Ag@SiO2 NPs have been successfully synthesized by introducing and utilizing a simple and eco-friendly approach based on electroless pre-treatment deposition and Stober methods. Our findings represent a new facile approach in the fabrication of novel plasmonic NPs for efficient polymer solar cells.

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“…[ 13,14 ] Moreover, plasmonic nanoparticles have been utilized to improve the photocurrents generated by PSCs and organic solar cells (OSCs) using the phenomenon of localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs). [ 15–21 ] There exist two main systems of plasmonic enhancement: the near‐field antenna effect, where light‐harvesting efficiency is improved by generating an optical near field about the nanoparticles (NPs), and the far‐field scattering effect, which involves increasing the effective light path length via far‐field scattering. The most recognized materials in plasmonics are gold and silver, due to their relatively high free‐electron densities, ability to resonate within solar spectrum, lossless capability, and stability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells Embedded with Plasmonic Nanoparticles

Alkhalayfeh

¹

,

Aziz

²

,

Pakhuruddin

³

et al. 2021

Physica Status Solidi (a)

Self Cite

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In this era of growing energy demand, the recently explored perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have evolved into a potentially viable alternative because of their cost effectiveness and high efficiency. Despite the immense research interest attracted by perovskite solar cells, their commercialization remains constrained by their instability and toxic nature. Among the different advanced solar cells technologies, the application of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) with plasmonic effects is an alternative, practical approach to improve the stability and enhance the generation and transport of photons and charge carriers. Besides, MNPs improve light absorption and scattering in the active layer, in addition to the expansion of electronic properties by decreasing the binding excitation energy. Herein a synopsis of the importance of PSCs and the utilization of plasmonic NPs to improve their performance is presented. In addition, the existing endeavors to incorporate these plasmonic structures into indoor photovoltaic and semitransparent PSCs are reviewed.

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“…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 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, due to the high cost of ITO, there is an increasing interest in more cost-effective materials such as aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) [ 35 ]. In addition, in organic solar cell devices, poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is the most-used TCO material [ 26 ], also in view of production of flexible devices. These materials have, typically, ε m ≈ 4 and could serve as supporting or embedding medium for Ag and Au nanoparticles.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Ruffino

¹

2021

Micromachines

0

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Ag and Au nanostructures became increasingly interesting due to their localized surface plasmon resonance properties. These properties can be successfully exploited in order to enhance the light trapping in solar cell devices by appropriate light scattering phenomena. In solar cell applications, the Ag or Au nanoparticles are, usually, supported on or embedded in a thin transparent conductive oxide layer, mainly AZO and ITO for inorganic solar cells and PEDOT:PSS for organic solar cells. However, the light scattering properties strongly depend on the shape and size of the metal nanostructures and on the optical properties of the surrounding environment. Therefore, the systems need to be well designed to maximize scattering and minimize the light absorption within the metal nanoparticles. In this regard, this work reports, in particular, results concerning calculations, by using the Mie theory, of the angle-dependent light scattering intensity (I(θ)) for spherical Ag and Au nanoparticles coated by a shell of AZO or ITO or PEDOT:PSS. I(θ) and scattering efficiency Qscatt for the spherical core–shell nanoparticles are calculated by changing the radius R of the spherical core (Ag or Au) and the thickness d of the shell (AZO, ITO, or PEDOT:PSS). For each combination of core–shell system, the evolution of I(θ) and Qscatt with the core and shell sizes is drawn and comparisons between the various types of systems is drawn at parity of core and shell sizes. For simplicity, the analysis is limited to spherical core–shell nanoparticles so as to use the Mie theory and to perform analytically exact calculations. However, the results of the present work, even if simplified, can help in establishing the general effect of the core and shell sizes on the light scattering properties of the core–shell nanoparticles, essential to prepare the nanoparticles with desired structure appropriate to the application.

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An overview of enhanced polymer solar cells with embedded plasmonic nanoparticles

Cited by 62 publications

References 67 publications

Impact of hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles on the charge carrier mobility of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells

Impact of hybrid plasmonic nanoparticles on the charge carrier mobility of P3HT:PCBM polymer solar cells

Recent Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells Embedded with Plasmonic Nanoparticles

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

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