Enhancing the efficiency of polymer solar cells by embedding Au@Ag NPs Durian shape in buffer layer

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

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2020.12.010

“…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 . Besides, the plasmon resonance creates strong electromagnetic fields (near-fields) around the nanoparticles thanks to which the photon flux inside the active layer as a secondary light source is increased 21 – 24 .…”

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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“…Adding the Au@Ag NPs with numerous pointed spikes into PEDOT:PSS improves the PCE of OSCs, probably due to the tiny radii of the spikes’ tips, leading to significant improvement in the EM field [ 32 ]. Furthermore, the embedding of Au@Ag NPs into the buffer layer leads to a modification of the work function [ 42 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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. In addition, the tiny radii of Au@Ag NPs’ spike endings considerably improve the EM field at their sites, which significantly augments the PCE of OSCs [ 32 ]. However, the performance of OSCs embedded with NPs strongly depends on the density of NPs in the HTL.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

Alkhalayfeh

¹

,

Aziz

²

,

Pakhuruddin

³

et al. 2021

Self Cite

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The localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects of nanoparticles (NPs) are effective for enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, spiky durian-shaped Au@Ag core-shell NPs were synthesized and embedded in the hole transport layer (HTL) (poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)) of PTB7:PC71BM bulk-heterojunction OSCs. Different volume ratios of PEDOT:PSS-to-Au@Ag NPs (8%, 10%, 12%, 14%, and 16%) were prepared to optimize synthesis conditions for increased efficiency. The size properties and surface morphology of the NPs and HTL were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). UV–Vis spectroscopy and current density–voltage (J-V) analysis were used to investigate the electrical performance of the fabricated OSCs. From the results, we observed that the OSC with a volume ratio of 14% (PEDOT:PSS–to–Au@Ag NPs) performed better than others, where the PCE was improved from 2.50% to 4.15%, which is a 66% increase compared to the device without NPs.

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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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Enhancing the efficiency of polymer solar cells by embedding Au@Ag NPs Durian shape in buffer layer

Cited by 18 publications

References 51 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

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

Recent Advances of Perovskite Solar Cells Embedded with Plasmonic Nanoparticles

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