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Socol M, Preda N. Hybrid Nanocomposite Thin Films for Photovoltaic Applications: A Review. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 11:1117. [PMID: 33925952 PMCID: PMC8145415 DOI: 10.3390/nano11051117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Continuing growth in global energy consumption and the growing concerns regarding climate change and environmental pollution are the strongest drivers of renewable energy deployment. Solar energy is the most abundant and cleanest renewable energy source available. Nowadays, photovoltaic technologies can be regarded as viable pathways to provide sustainable energy generation, the achievement attained in designing nanomaterials with tunable properties and the progress made in the production processes having a major impact in their development. Solar cells involving hybrid nanocomposite layers have, lately, received extensive research attention due to the possibility to combine the advantages derived from the properties of both components: flexibility and processability from the organic part and stability and optoelectronics features from the inorganic part. Thus, this review provides a synopsis on hybrid solar cells developed in the last decade which involve composite layers deposited by spin-coating, the most used deposition method, and matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation, a relatively new deposition technique. The overview is focused on the hybrid nanocomposite films that can use conducting polymers and metal phthalocyanines as p-type materials, fullerene derivatives and non-fullerene compounds as n-type materials, and semiconductor nanostructures based on metal oxide, chalcogenides, and silicon. A survey regarding the influence of various factors on the hybrid solar cell efficiency is given in order to identify new strategies for enhancing the device performance in the upcoming years.
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Kiymaz D, Kiymaz A, Zafer C. Performance improvement of P3HT nanowire-based organic solar cells by interfacial morphology engineering. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2021; 32:105401. [PMID: 33203816 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/abcb61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) nanowires (nw-P3HT) have been a great interest for organic electronics, including organic field-effect transistors, organic photodetectors, organic photovoltaics, etc due to easy formation in the solution process. Thus both explanations of charge transport dynamics and morphology are crucial for device performance. Here we demonstrated the optoelectronic properties of the P3HT nanowires where the polymer backbones were parallel to the nanowire axis. The nanowires tended to form a bundle due to van der Waals interactions. Nanowire bundles were separated by 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) additive for photovoltaic fabrication. The bundle separation was visualized by atomic force microscopy. The charge transfer mechanism was evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The electrical analysis showed that short-circuit current density (J sc) increases to 10.74 mA cm-2 after the bundle separation. According to impedance analysis, there is a correlation between effective lifetime and DIO ratio. These findings were considered as promising results for improving the transport by forming pathways for charge carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deniz Kiymaz
- Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Aykut Kiymaz
- Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, Turkey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Ege University, 35040, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ceylan Zafer
- Solar Energy Institute, Ege University, 35100, Izmir, Turkey
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García-Carvajal S, Hernández-Martínez D, Linzaga-Elizalde I, Maldonado J, Altuzar-Coello P, Nicho M. Effect of the functionalization of CdS nanoparticles in the in-situ synthesis of P3HT/CdS composites. Eur Polym J 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.04.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Lee YH, Ha M, Song I, Lee JH, Won Y, Lim S, Ko H, Oh JH. High-Performance Hybrid Photovoltaics with Efficient Interfacial Contacts between Vertically Aligned ZnO Nanowire Arrays and Organic Semiconductors. ACS OMEGA 2019; 4:9996-10002. [PMID: 31460092 PMCID: PMC6648691 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.9b00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Hybrid photovoltaics (HPVs) incorporating both organic and inorganic semiconducting materials have attracted much attention as next-generation photovoltaics because of their advantage of combining both materials. The hybridization of ZnO nanowires (NWs) and organic semiconductors is expected to be a suitable approach to overcome the limited exciton diffusion length and low electron mobility associated with current organic photovoltaics. The use of ZnO NWs allows researchers to tune nanoscale dimensions more precisely and to achieve rod-to-rod spacing below 10 nm. However, the perfect incorporation of organic semiconductors into densely packed ZnO NW arrays has yet to be achieved. In this study, we report the fabrication of ZnO NW arrays and various organic heterojunction-based HPVs using the feasible and effective vacuum-assisted double coating (VADC) method, achieving full coverage of the organic semiconductors on the compact ZnO NW arrays. The newly proposed VADC method ensures perfect infiltration and full coverage of the organic semiconductors on the densely packed NW arrays. Compared with the conventional single spin-coating process, the use of the VADC method led to 11 and 14% increases in the power conversion efficiency of P3HT:PCBM- and PBDTTT-C-T:PC71BM-based HPVs, respectively. Our studies provide a feasible method for the fabrication of efficient HPVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Ho Lee
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic
of Korea
- Center for
Advanced Soft Electronics, Pohang University
of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang 37673, Gyongbuk, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Ha
- School
of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan
National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Inho Song
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic
of Korea
| | - Jeong Hun Lee
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic
of Korea
| | - Yousang Won
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic
of Korea
| | - Seongdong Lim
- School
of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan
National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunhyub Ko
- School
of Energy and Chemical Engineering, Ulsan
National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), Ulsan 44919, Republic of Korea
- E-mail: (H.K)
| | - Joon Hak Oh
- School
of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Institute of Chemical Processes, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic
of Korea
- E-mail: (J.H.O.)
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Amber Yousaf S, Ikram M, Ali S. Compositional engineering of acceptors for highly efficient bulk heterojunction hybrid organic solar cells. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 527:172-179. [PMID: 29793171 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The wet chemical synthesis of chromium oxide (Cr2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) and its application in active layer of inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cells is documented in this research. Chromium oxide NPs of 10-30 nm size range having a band gap of 2.9 eV were successfully synthesized. These NPs were used in inverted organic solar cells in amalgamation with P3HT:PCBM and PTB7:PCBM polymers. The fabricated hybrid devices improves PCE significantly for P3HT:PCBM and PTB7:PCBM systems. The photophysical energy levels, optoelectrical properties and microscopic images have been systematically studied for the fabricated devices. The introduction of Cr2O3 nanoparticles (NPs) enhances light harvesting and tunes energy levels into improved electrical parameters. A clear red shift and improved absorption have been observed for ternary blended devices compared to that observed with controlled organic solar cells. Apparently, when the amount of NPs in the binary polymer blend exceeds the required optimum level, there is a breakdown of the bulk heterojunction leading to lowering of the optical and electrical performance of the devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amber Yousaf
- Solar Cell Applications Research Lab, Department of Physics, Government College University Lahore, 54000 Punjab, Pakistan
| | - M Ikram
- Solar Cell Applications Research Lab, Department of Physics, Government College University Lahore, 54000 Punjab, Pakistan.
| | - S Ali
- Solar Cell Applications Research Lab, Department of Physics, Government College University Lahore, 54000 Punjab, Pakistan
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Choi Y, Kang S, Cha SH, Kim HS, Song K, Lee YJ, Kim K, Kim YS, Cho S, Park Y. Platycodon saponins from Platycodi Radix (Platycodon grandiflorum) for the Green Synthesis of Gold and Silver Nanoparticles. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2018; 13:23. [PMID: 29344800 PMCID: PMC5772348 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-018-2436-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A green synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles is described in the present report using platycodon saponins from Platycodi Radix (Platycodon grandiflorum) as reducing agents. Platycodin D (PD), a major triterpenoidal platycodon saponin, was enriched by an enzymatic transformation of an aqueous extract of Platycodi Radix. This PD-enriched fraction was utilized for processing reduction reactions of gold and silver salts to synthesize gold nanoparticles (PD-AuNPs) and silver nanoparticles (PD-AgNPs), respectively. No other chemicals were introduced during the reduction reactions, providing an entirely green, eco-friendly, and sustainable method. UV-visible spectra showed the surface plasmon resonance bands of PD-AuNPs at 536 nm and PD-AgNPs at 427 nm. Spherically shaped nanoparticles were observed from high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with average diameters of 14.94 ± 2.14 nm for PD-AuNPs and 18.40 ± 3.20 nm for PD-AgNPs. Minor triangular and other polygonal shapes were also observed for PD-AuNPs along with spherical ones. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) images also demonstrated that both nanoparticles were mostly spherical in shape. Curvature-dependent evolution was employed to enhance the AFM images and precisely measure the sizes of the nanoparticles. The sizes were measured as 19.14 nm for PD-AuNPs and 29.93 nm for PD-AgNPs from the enhanced AFM images. Face-centered cubic structures for both nanoparticles were confirmed by strong diffraction patterns from high-resolution X-ray diffraction analyses. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed the contribution of -OH, aromatic C=C, C-O, and C-H functional groups to the synthesis. Furthermore, the catalytic activity of PD-AuNPs was assessed with a reduction reaction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol in the presence of sodium borohydride. The catalytic activity results suggest the potential application of these gold nanoparticles as catalysts in the future. The green strategy reported in this study using saponins as reducing agents will pave new roads to develop novel nanomaterials with versatile applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoonho Choi
- College of Pharmacy, Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, 50834 Republic of Korea
| | - Sehyeon Kang
- Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Song-Hyun Cha
- Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Seok Kim
- Offshore Plant Research Division, Korea Research Institute of Ships and Ocean Engineering 32, 1312 Beon-gil, Yuseong-daero, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 34103 Republic of Korea
| | - Kwangho Song
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - You Jeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, 50834 Republic of Korea
| | - Kyeongsoon Kim
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, 50834 Republic of Korea
| | - Yeong Shik Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Natural Products Research Institute, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Seonho Cho
- Department of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, 08826 Republic of Korea
| | - Youmie Park
- College of Pharmacy, Inje University, 197 Inje-ro, Gimhae, Gyeongnam, 50834 Republic of Korea
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