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Nanowire-based multifunctional antireflection coatings for solar cells
Pritesh Hiralal1, Chihtao Chien, Niraj N Lal
1Centre of Advanced Photonics and Electronics, Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, 9 JJ Thomson Av., CB3 0FA, Cambridge, UK. pv237@cam.ac.uk.
Nanoscale
|October 29, 2014
Summary
Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires enhance organic solar cell efficiency by 36% and reduce degradation by 50%. These ZnO nanowires also provide self-cleaning properties, improving device performance and longevity.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Organic solar cells (OSCs) offer a promising renewable energy source but face challenges in efficiency and long-term stability.
- Antireflection coatings and UV-barrier layers are crucial for improving OSC performance and durability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the multifunctional properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanowires as coatings for organic (P3HT/PCBM) solar cells.
- To evaluate the impact of ZnO nanowires on solar cell efficiency, UV degradation, and self-cleaning capabilities.
Main Methods:
- Coating organic solar cells with ZnO nanowires grown via a low-cost, low-temperature hydrothermal method.
- Characterizing the optical properties, refractive index, and absorption bands of the ZnO nanowire coating.
- Assessing the UV-barrier effect through accelerated lifetime testing and quantifying degradation rates.
- Evaluating self-cleaning properties via photocatalytic degradation of organic materials and surface functionalization to tune water contact angles.
Main Results:
- ZnO nanowire coatings resulted in up to a 36% enhancement in organic solar cell efficiency due to optimized light absorption.
- The ZnO coating acted as an effective UV-barrier, reducing polymer degradation rates by 50% under accelerated testing.
- Enhanced photocatalytic activity and tunable surface wettability (superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic) demonstrated effective self-cleaning properties.
Conclusions:
- Multifunctional ZnO nanowires are a cost-effective and compatible coating for enhancing organic solar cell performance and longevity.
- The combined antireflection, UV-barrier, and self-cleaning properties of ZnO nanowires offer a significant advancement for organic photovoltaic technology.
