Volume 20, Issue 20 p. 6010-6018
Full Paper

Performance Enhancement of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells with Direct Growth of CdS-Cluster-Decorated Graphene Nanosheets

Kai Yuan,

Institute of Polymers/Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

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Prof. Dr. Lie Chen,

Institute of Polymers/Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

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Dr. Licheng Tan,

Institute of Polymers/Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

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Prof. Dr. Yiwang Chen,

Corresponding Author

Institute of Polymers/Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of New Energy Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)

Institute of Polymers/Department of Chemistry, Nanchang University, 999 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang 330031 (P.R. China)Search for more papers by this author
First published: 07 April 2014
Citations: 8

Abstract

Two-dimensional exciton dissociation centers were fabricated in situ. By incorporating these centers into active layers (see figure, ITO=indium tin oxide, GO=graphene oxide), exciton dissociation and separation was dramatically improved with remarkably enhanced collecting and transporting efficiency of photoinduced electrons and holes, and thus elevated device performance.

Abstract

Two-dimensional graphene–CdS (G–CdS) semiconductor hybrid nanosheets were synthesized in situ by graphene oxide (GO) quantum wells and a metal–xanthate precursor through a one-step growth process. Incorporation of G–CdS nanosheets into a photoactive film consisting of poly[4,8-bis-(2-ethyl-hexyl-thiophene-5-yl)-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b]dithiophene-2,6-diyl]-alt-[2-(2-ethyl-hexanoyl)-thieno[3,4-b]thiophen-4,6-diyl] (PBDTTT-C-T) and [6,6]-phenyl C70 butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) effectively decreases the exciton lifetime to accelerate exciton dissociation. More importantly, the decreasing energy levels of PBDTTT-C-T, PC70BM, and G–CdS produces versatile heterojunction interfaces of PBDTTT-C-T:PC70BM, PBDTTT-C-T:G–CdS, and PBDTTT-C-T:PC70BM:G–CdS; this offers multi-charge-transfer channels for more efficient charge separation and transfer. The charge transfer in the blend film also depends on the G–CdS nanosheet loadings. In addition, G–CdS nanosheets improve light utilization and charge mobility in the photoactive layer. As a result, by incorporation of G–CdS nanosheets into the active layer, the power-conversion efficiency of inverted solar cells based on PBDTTT-C-T and PC71BM is improved from 6.0 % for a reference device without G–CdS nanosheets to 7.5 % for the device with 1.5wt % G–CdS nanosheets, due to the dramatically enhanced short-circuit current. Combined with the advantageous mechanical properties of the PBDTTT-C-T:PC70BM:G–CdS active layer, the novel CdS-cluster-decorated graphene hybrid nanomaterials provide a promising approach to improve the device performance.