title: Heterojunction photovoltaics using GaAs nanowires and conjugated polymers.
abstract: We demonstrate an organic/inorganic solar cell architecture based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and narrow bandgap GaAs nanowires. The measured increase of device photocurrent with increased nanowire loading is correlated with structural ordering within the active layer that enhances charge transport. Coating the GaAs nanowires with TiO(x) shells passivates nanowire surface states and further improves the photovoltaic performance. We find that the P3HT/nanowire cells yield power conversion efficiencies of 2.36% under white LED illumination for devices containing 50 wt % of TiO(x)-coated GaAs nanowires. Our results constitute important progress for the use of nanowires in large area solution processed hybrid photovoltaic cells and provide insight into the role of structural ordering in the device performance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Shenqiang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Samuel C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tambe
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bulović
authors.forename: Silvija
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gradecak
mesh_terms: D001152:Arsenicals / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005708:Gallium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D010316:Particle Size; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012666:Semiconductors; D012993:Solar Energy
chemical_list: D001152:Arsenicals; D011108:Polymers; C043055:gallium arsenide; D005708:Gallium