Photoactive area modification in bulk heterojunctionorganic solar cells using optimization of electrochemicallysynthesized ZnO nanorods

doi:10.1088/1674-1056/24/11/117203

Abstract In this work, ZnO nanorod arrays grown by an electrochemical deposition method are investigated. The crucial parameters of length, diameter, and density of the nanorods are optimized over the synthesize process and nanorods growth time. Crystalline structure, morphologies, and optical properties of ZnO nanorod arrays are studied by different techniques such as x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, atomic force microscope, and UV-visible transmission spectra. The ZnO nanorod arrays are employed in an inverted bulk heterojunction organic solar cell of Poly (3-hexylthiophene):[6-6] Phenyl-(6) butyric acid methyl ester to introduce more surface contact between the electron transporter layer and the active layer. Our results show that the deposition time is a very important factor to achieve the aligned and uniform ZnO nanorods with suitable surface density which is required for effective infiltration of active area into the ZnO nanorod spacing and make a maximum interfacial surface contact for electron collection, as overgrowing causes nanorods to be too dense and thick and results in high resistance and lower visible light transmittance. By optimizing the thickness of the active layer on top of ZnO nanorods, an improved efficiency of 3.17% with a high FF beyond 60% was achieved.

Keywords: electrochemical deposition density-controlled ZnO nanorods inverted polymer solar cells active area modification

Received: 16 February 2015
Revised: 09 May 2015
Accepted manuscript online:

PACS:	72.80.Le	(Polymers; organic compounds (including organic semiconductors))
	73.61.-r	(Electrical properties of specific thin films)
	73.22.-f	(Electronic structure of nanoscale materials and related systems)

Corresponding Authors: Mehdi Ahmadi
E-mail: m.ahmadi@vru.ac.ir

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Mehdi Ahmadi, Sajjad Rashidi Dafeh Photoactive area modification in bulk heterojunctionorganic solar cells using optimization of electrochemicallysynthesized ZnO nanorods 2015 Chin. Phys. B 24 117203

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Photoactive area modification in bulk heterojunctionorganic solar cells using optimization of electrochemicallysynthesized ZnO nanorods

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