Improved photovoltaic performance of silicon nanowires/conjugated polymer hybrid solar cells

• Published in: Synthetic metals Vol. 191; pp. 6 - 11
• Main Authors: Chehata, N., Ltaief, A., Ilahi, B., Salam, B., Bouazizi, A., Maaref, H., Beyou, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-05-2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Application fields; Applied sciences; Chemical Sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid solar cells; Material chemistry; Natural energy; Photoluminescence quenching; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaic effect; Polymer; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers; Si nanowires; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Technology of polymers; Polymer; Si nanowires; Photovoltaic effect; Photoluminescence quenching; Hybrid solar cells; Short circuit currents; Dispersion degree; Photoluminescence; Phenylenevinylene derivative polymer; Organic solar cells; Experimental study; Fill factor; Open circuit voltage; Conjugated polymer; Optical properties; Morphology; Concentration effect; Nanocomposite; Silicon; Nanowires; Optical absorption
• ISSN: 0379-6779; 1879-3290
• DOI: 10.1016/j.synthmet.2014.02.009

•Incorporation of SiNWs into conjugated polymer matrix.•Red-shift of polymer absorption spectra.•Quenching of PL intensity with SiNWs addition.•Amelioration of Photovoltaic performance.•Correlation morphology-optical responses.
In this study, we investigate the effect of incorporation of Si nanowires (SiNWs) on the organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites based on poly [2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) and SiNWs. A huge potential for SiNWs for an amelioration of optical properties of investigated structures was shown, and particularly a more efficient charge transfer was guaranteed. The impact of SiNWs incorporation on photoluminescence properties of polymer:Si nanowires nanocomposites have been correlated with morphological characteristics. MEH-PPV:SiNWs (1:2) is the optimum composition where the device performance displays a Jsc of 0.328μA/cm2, a Voc of 0.680V and FF of 38%.