Recent developments of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells

Hybrid nanocrystal/polymer bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells consisting of colloidal inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals as electron acceptors and conjugated polymers as electron donors have been extensively investigated in the past few decades, which take advantage of the strongpoints of the inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals and the conjugated polymers. Currently, power conversion efficiency over 3% for the hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells has been achieved. Although the development of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells lacks behind the international level, great progress in this research field has been made in China. In this article, we first review the general fabrication techniques and general working principles of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells. Secondly, we highlight the international and national developments of hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells based on different types of semiconductor nanocrystals and conjugated polymers. Finally, we give a future outlook for the hybrid nanocrystal/polymer BHJ solar cells in the worldwide.