The Role of Nanocrystal Size in Solution Processable CdSe:P3HT Hybrid Photovoltaic Devices

Hybrid photovoltaic devices were fabricated using different sizes of CdSe quantum dots with different loading concentrations in P3HT matrix. CdSe quantum dots were synthesized chemically using olive oil as the capping agent, instead of toxic phosphine. The efficiency of hybrid poly-(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) P3HT:CdSe photovoltaic device was found to depend on the size as well as the loading of the nanocrystals. A maximum power conversion efficiency of -0.8% was achieved under AM1.5G solar illumination for the device with -5.3 nm CdSe nanocrystals. A hybrid photovoltaic device was demonstrated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates paving the way to achieve flexible,transparent and printable devices.