Solution-processed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle thin film aligned by an external magnetostatic field as a hole extraction layer for polymer solar cells.
We report, for the first time, the effect of a solution-processed Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticle (MNP) thin film and a Fe3O4 MNP thin film aligned by an external magnetostatic field, used as a hole extraction layer (HEL), respectively, in polymer solar cells (PSCs). The thin film of a Fe3O4 MNP shows a smoother surface, better transparency, and higher electrical conductivity than that of a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) thin layer. Moreover, the thin film of a Fe3O4 MNP aligned by an external magnetostatic field possesses an enhanced electrical conductivity and lower internal series resistance, thus leading to greater than 13% enhancement in the power conversion efficiency of PSCs than those using a PEDOT:PSS thin film. It was also found that PSCs incorporated with a Fe3O4 MNP shows better stability compared with those using PEDOT:PSS as an anode buffer layer. These results demonstrated that utilization of a Fe3O4 MNP as a HEL in PSCs blazes a trail to achieve highly efficient and long-time-stable devices.
College of Polymer Science and Polymer Engineering, The University of Akron , Akron, Ohio 44325, United States.
Kai
K
Wang
He
H
Ren
Chao
C
Yi
Chang
C
Liu
Hangxing
H
Wang
Lin
L
Huang
Haoli
H
Zhang
Alamgir
A
Karim
Xiong
X
Gong
D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry; D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D012993:Solar Energy; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000737:chemistry
D004573:Electrolytes; D058185:Magnetite Nanoparticles; D011108:Polymers; D011137:Polystyrenes; D012996:Solutions; D013876:Thiophenes; C533756:poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate); D052203:Ferrosoferric Oxide