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Aqueous-Processed Insulating Polymer/Nanocrystal Hybrid Solar Cells
Gan Jin1, Zhaolai Chen2, Chunwei Dong2
1College of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University , Changchun 130024, People's Republic of China.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|March 3, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a new hybrid solar cell (HSC) using insulating poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) instead of conductive polymers. This innovation enhances performance by improving contact and reducing current leakage in nanocrystal solar cells.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photovoltaics
Background:
- Hybrid solar cells (HSCs) commonly use conjugated polymers.
- Nanocrystals (NCs) are promising for photovoltaic applications.
- Improving charge transport and reducing recombination are key challenges in NC-based solar cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a novel hybrid solar cell (HSC) using an insulating polymer.
- To replace conventional conjugated polymers with a water-soluble insulating polymer, poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA).
- To enhance photovoltaic performance through strategic material design.
Main Methods:
- Incorporation of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) into cadmium telluride (CdTe) nanocrystal (NC) films.
- Utilizing the decomposition properties of PVA during annealing.
- Fabrication of HSCs with CdTe NCs and MoO3.
Main Results:
- Partial decomposition of PVA created surface pits, increasing contact area between CdTe NCs and MoO3.
- Residual PVA reduced leakage current by filling voids among NCs.
- Shunt resistance increased by ~80%, overcoming charge-carrier recombination.
Conclusions:
- The novel HSCs exhibited improved open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor, and power conversion efficiency.
- This approach offers a universal, cost-effective method for enhancing photovoltaic performance.
- The strategy is applicable to other insulating polymers like PVP, offering advantages in synthesis, type, economy, and stability.
