Functionalized 2D-MoS₂-Incorporated Polymer Ternary Solar Cells: Role of Nanosheet-Induced Long-Range Ordering of...

In this paper, we demonstrated the enhancement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C₇₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM) by incorporation of functionalized 2D-MoS₂ nanosheets (NSs) as an additional charge-transporting material. The enhancement in PCE of ternary solar cells arises due to the synergic enhancement in exciton dissociation and the improvement in mobility of both electrons and holes through the active layer of the solar cells. The improved hole mobility is attributed to the formation of the long-range ordered nanofibrillar structure of polymer phases and improved crystallinity in the presence of 2D-MoS₂ NSs. The improved electron mobility arises due to the highly conducting 2D network of MoS₂ NSs which provides additional electron transport channels within the active layer. The nanosheet-incorporated ternary blend solar cells exhibit 32% enhancement in PCE relative to the binary blend P3HT/PC₇₁BM.