Nanocrystal-polymer solar cells

The ability to structure materials on a nanometer dimension enables the processes of solar energy conversion to be optimized at their most fundamental length scale. In semiconducting nanocrystals, optical absorption and electrical transport can be tailored by changing their radius and length, respectively. The unique features of quantum confinement and shape manipulation characteristic for inorganic nanocrystals can be utilized to fabricate solar cells with properties not observed in organic or conventional inorganic solar cells. Furthermore, their solution processibility provides fabrication advantages in the production of low cost, large area, and flexible solar cells. By blending organic conjugated polymers with CdSe nanocrystals efficient thin film solar cells have been constructed. Intimate contact for efficient charge transfer between the polymer and nanocrystal components of the blend was achieved by removing the organic ligands on the surface of the nanocrystal and by using solvent mixtures. Control of the nanocrystal length and therefore the distance on which electrons are transported directly through a thin film device enabled the creation of direct pathways for the transport of electrons. In addition, tuning the band gap by altering the nanocrystal radius as well as using alternate materials such as CdTe the overlap between the absorption spectrum of the cell and the solar emission spectrum could be optimized. A photovoltaic device consisting of 7nm by 60nm CdSe nanorods and the conjugated polymer poly-3(hexylthiophene) was assembled from solution with an external quantum efficiency of over 54% and a monochromatic power conversion efficiency of up to 7% under illumination at low light intensity. Under AM 1.5 Global solar conditions, we obtained a power conversion efficiency of 1.7%.