Photovoltaic technology has powerful implications from commercial and national security standpoints. Due to the high material cost of silicon solar devices, inexpensive and lightweight polymer based solar is desirable to meet the demand for decentralized electrical power production in traditionally “off-grid” areas. Using a blend of Poly(3-hexylthiophene- 2,5-diyl) (P3HT), Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), and the low band-gap polymer Poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2- ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta [2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene)-alt-4,7(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)] (PCPDTBT), we have fabricated devices with a wide spectral response and 3% power conversion efficiency in AM 1.5 conditions. Due to low absorptivity in the peak of the solar spectra (500nm), we have blended this previous polymer system with CdSe(ZnS) core (shell) quantum dots to improve absorption, and thus power conversion efficiencies. Devices were prepared with quantum dots having a peak absorbance at 560nm and an emission wavelength of 577nm, with device loading ranging from 0% to 2.7% by weight. The relationship between quantum dot concentration and device performance is discussed, along with the impact of quantum dot concentration on thermal resistance to morphology changes.

Date Published: 6 October 2014
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 9184, Organic Photovoltaics XV, 918425 (6 October 2014); doi: 10.1117/12.2061955

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 9184:
Organic Photovoltaics XV
Zakya H. Kafafi; Paul A. Lane; Ifor D. W. Samuel, Editor(s)