Ordered polythiophene/fullerene composite core–shell nanorod arrays for solar cell applications

Abstract

For the first time, we have used melt-assisted wetting of porous alumina templates to prepare ordered core-shell nanorod arrays of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) for use in polymer solar cells. We characterized these arrays using tunneling electron microscopy and conductance atomic force microscopy, which revealed the presence of phase-separated shell (p-type) and core (n-type) regions. Under illumination, we observed a variation of several picoamperes between the currents in the core and shell regions of the P3HT/PCBM nanorod arrays.

Towards High Performance Organic Photovoltaic Cells: A Review of Recent Development in Organic Photovoltaics

“…However, the basic or acidic solution used to remove the template will react with P3HT, deleteriously affecting the device performance [92]. In this case, Chen et al presented a simple, cost-effective method for the fabrication of P3HT nanopillars by using PDMS to reduce the surface energy of AAO templates [93].…”

Electrophoretic Deposition of Poly(3-decylthiophene) onto Gold-Mounted Cadmium Selenide Nanorods

“…3,4 However, in order to improve conversion efficiencies, alternating, vertically aligned geometries of donor and acceptor phases, such as alternating nanorods, appear to constitute ideal structures for maximisation of carrier transport. 5 Similar devices using metal oxide electrodes and high-workfunction anodes (e.g., Ag and Au) have been developed recently to reduce oxidation problems in lower-workfunction cathodes and degradation of the indium tin oxide (ITO)-poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) interface in conventional solar cells. 6,7 Although these structures are challenging to fabricate, Ryan et al have made considerable progress in recent years via electrophoretic deposition (EPD) of nanocrystal and nanorod electrodes of differing charge from organic (toluene) solutions, to achieve a good degree of vertical nanorod alignment, 8,9 and also in the formation of nanorod assemblies in electric fields.…”

Nano-composite Structures for OPV Devices

“…Recent examples of the ordered-heterojunction concept have included the addition of ionic structural units (ionomers) such as partially sulfonated polystyrene (PSP) 19 , the use of inorganic templates leading to nanorod arrays 20 , nanowires 21 , and one-dimensional nanostructures 22 .…”