Improved performance of photovoltaic devices based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) nanofibers and CdSe quantum dots through ligand exchange and annealing treatment

• Published in: Solid-state electronics Vol. 82; pp. 25 - 28
• Main Author: Qiao, Fen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anneal; Annealing; Applied sciences; Cadmium selenides; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Electronics; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Hybrid solar cell; Intermetallics; Ligand; Ligands; Materials science; Morphology; Nanocrystals; Nanoparticle; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Natural energy; Optoelectronic devices; Other topics in nanoscale materials and structures; P3HT; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Quantum dots; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; P3HT; Anneal; Nanoparticle; Ligand; Hybrid solar cell; Performance evaluation; Quantum dot; Transport properties; II-VI compound; Conversion rate; Hybrid material; Nanofiber; Polymer; Charge transport; Organic solar cells; Photovoltaic cell; Cadmium selenides; Solar cell; Organic-inorganic hybrid materials; Thiophene derivative polymer; Thermal insulating material; Optoelectronic device; Thermal annealing; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 0038-1101; 1879-2405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sse.2013.01.011

► Ligand exchange with pyridine improves the conductivity of CdSe dots. ► Thermal annealing gets rid of organics covered the surface of CdSe dots. ► Optimized the morphology and transport result in improved efficiency of device .
Hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells based on pyridine-treated CdSe quantum dots and poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) nanofibers were fabricated. By tuning the ligands of CdSe dots and morphology modification of blend film through thermal annealing, the insulating and less stable pyridine ligands of CdSe QDs can be removed by gentle heating and modified morphology results in more efficient charge separation and transport properties, and this leads to an improved power conversion efficiency of 1.22%. These results demonstrate a promising approach to improve charge transport in the hybrid nanocrystal-polymer composite photovoltaic cells.