title: Hybrid solar cells from P3HT and silicon nanocrystals.
abstract: We are reporting new hybrid solar cells based on blends of silicon nanocrystals (Si NCs) and poly-3(hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer in which a percolating network of the nanocrystals acts as the electron-conducting phase. The properties of composite Si NCs/P3HT devices made by spin-coating Si NCs and P3HT from a common solvent were studied as a function of Si NC size and Si NC/P3HT ratio. The open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current are observed to depend on the Si NC size due to changes in the bandgap and surface-area-to-volume ratio. Under simulated one-sun A.M. 1.5 direct illumination (100 mW/cm2), devices made with 35 wt % Si NCs 3-5 nm in size showed 1.15% power conversion efficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota, 111 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA.
authors.forename: Chin-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zachary C
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Holman
authors.forename: Uwe R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Kortshagen
mesh_terms: D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008027:Light; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D010316:Particle Size; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012825:Silicon / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; C526212:poly(3-hexyl)selenophene; D012825:Silicon