PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS BASED ON DONOR AND ACCEPTOR NANO-PARTICULATE CONJUGATES IN CONDUCTIVE POLYMER BLENDS
A photovoltaic cell includes a substrate layer, an anode layer on the substrate layer, an active layer on the anode layer, and a cathode layer on the active layer, wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized n-type and p-type nano-particles of different semiconductor materials randomly distributed in a conductive polymer blend. The n-type nano-particles can include either ZnO or In 2 O 3 nano-particles, and the p-type nano-particles can include either NiO or La 2 O 3 nano-particles. The conductive polymer blend can include P3HT. The bandgaps of the nano-particles have corresponding energies ranging from the near ultraviolet to the far infrared.
1 . A photovoltaic cell comprising:
a substrate layer;
an anode layer on the substrate layer;
an active layer on the anode layer; and
a cathode layer on the active layer,
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized n-type and p-type nano-particles of different semiconductor materials randomly distributed in a conductive polymer blend.
2 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the n-type nano-particles comprise either ZnO or In 2 O 3 nano-particles.
3 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the p-type nano-particles comprise either NiO or La 2 O 3 nano-particles.
4 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the conductive polymer blend comprises P3HT.
5 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the bandgaps of the nano-particles have corresponding energies ranging from the near ultraviolet to the far infrared.
6 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 comprising a flexible photovoltaic cell.
7 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the substrate layer comprises a flexible layer.
9 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the anode layer comprises ITO.
10 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 wherein the cathode layer comprises gold or aluminum.
11 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 further comprising an interfacial layer interposed between the active layer and the cathode layer.
12 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 11 wherein the interfacial layer comprises a plurality of gold nano-particles in a conductive polymer.
13 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 12 wherein the conductive polymer comprises PEDOT:PSS.
14 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 further comprising an interfacial layer interposed between the active layer and the anode layer.
15 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 14 wherein the interfacial layer comprises a plurality of TiO 2 nano-particles in a conductive polymer.
16 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 15 wherein the conductive polymer comprises PEDOT:PSS.
17 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 further comprising gold or silver nano-particles.
18 . A photovoltaic cell comprising:
a substrate layer;
an anode layer on the substrate layer;
an n-type nano-structured layer on the anode layer;
an active layer on the anode layer; and
a cathode layer on the active layer,
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized p-type nano-particles of different semiconductor materials randomly distributed in a conductive polymer blend.
19 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 18 wherein the n-type nano-structured layer comprises nano-imprinted TiO 2 or ZnO putty.
20 . The photovoltaic cell of claim 18 wherein the n-type nano-structured layer further comprises a gold or silver layer.
21 . A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell comprising:
providing a substrate layer;
forming an anode layer on the substrate layer;
forming an active layer on the anode layer; and
forming a cathode layer on the active layer,
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized n-type and p-type nano-particles of different semiconductor materials randomly distributed in a conductive polymer blend.
22 . A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell comprising:
providing a substrate layer;
providing an anode layer on the substrate layer;
providing an n-type nano-structured layer on the anode layer;
providing an active layer on the anode layer; and
providing a cathode layer on the active layer,
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized p-type nano-particles of different semiconductor materials randomly distributed in a conductive polymer blend.