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 n-type nano-structured layer on the anode layer;
an active layer on the n-type nano-structured layer; and
a cathode layer on the active layer
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized p-type nano-particles,
wherein junctions randomly form between the n-type nano-structured layer and the disparately sized p-type nano-particles;
wherein the n-type nano-structured layer comprises nano-structure rectangular ridges on the n-type nano-structured layer extending into the active layer, the ridges each having a face region facing the cathode and side regions facing adjacent ridges, and the n-type nano-structured layer having valley regions between the ridges; and
further comprising gold or silver on the n-type nano-structured layer, the gold or silver being located on the face regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges and in the valley regions of the n-type nano-structured layer, but not on the side regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges, wherein the junctions randomly form between the side regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges and the disparately sized p-type nano-particles.
2. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein 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 active layer further comprises a first conductive polymer comprising poly(3-hexyl)thiophene (P3HT).
5. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein:
bandgaps of the n-type and p-type nano-particles both have corresponding energies ranging from the near ultraviolet to the far infrared.
6. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the photovoltaic cell is flexible.
7. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the substrate layer comprises a flexible layer.
8. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the anode layer comprises indium tin oxide (ITO).
9. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the cathode layer comprises gold or aluminum.
10. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the active layer further comprises gold or silver nano-particles.
11. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized n-type nano-particles.
12. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the n-type nano-structured layer consists of a single material, and wherein the rectangular ridges have widths and heights equal to or less than the electron and hole mobility of the material.
13. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , wherein the active layer further comprises gold or silver nano-particles.
14. A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell, the method comprising:
providing a substrate layer;
forming an anode layer on the substrate layer;
forming an n-type nano-structured layer on the anode layer;
forming an active layer on the n-type nano-structured layer; and
forming a cathode layer on the active layer,
wherein the active layer comprises a plurality of disparately sized p-type nano-particles randomly distributed in a first conductive polymer,
wherein junctions randomly form between the n-type nano-structured layer and the disparately sized p-type nano-particles;
wherein the n-type nano-structured layer comprises nano-structure rectangular ridges on the n-type nano-structured layer extending into the active layer, the ridges each having a face region facing the cathode and side regions facing adjacent ridges, and the n-type nano-structured layer having valley regions between the ridges; and
further comprising forming gold or silver on the n-type nano-structured layer, the gold or silver being located on the face regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges and in the valley regions of the n-type nano-structured layer, but not on the side regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges, wherein the junctions randomly form between the side regions of the nano-structure rectangular ridges and the disparately sized p-type nano-particles.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the active layer further comprises a plurality of disparately sized n-type nano-particles.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the active layer further comprises gold or silver nano-particles.
17. The photovoltaic cell of claim 1 , further comprising a first interfacial layer interposed between the active layer and the cathode layer.
18. The photovoltaic cell of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of gold nano-particles in a conductive polymer of the interfacial layer.
19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising forming a first interfacial layer between the active layer and the cathode layer.
20. The method of claim 14 , wherein the interfacial layer comprises a plurality of gold nano-particles in a conductive polymer of the interfacial layer.