A review of recent plasmonic nanoparticles incorporated P3HT: PCBM organic thin film solar cells

An optimum thickness of organic active layer of 100 nm or possibly less results in poor optical absorption in organic photovoltaic cells (OPV). The optical absorption can be improved by using a thick organic active layer, but the charge carrier collection efficiency will decrease due to low charge carrier mobility for most of the polymeric organic semiconductor. This phenomenon imposes a trade-off between optical absorption and charge carriers transport inside OPV. Recently, metallic nanostructures such as gold (Au) and silver (Ag) with various sizes and morphologies have been identified as an alternative route to boost the performance of OPV at this specific limited thickness (ie. <= 100 nm). Multiple plasmonic effects such as optical and electrical effects are induced upon introducing metallic nanoparticle(s), NP(s) into OPV. This review highlights recent progress in plasmonic-enhanced poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl): phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM)-based OPV with NP(s) located either inside organic active layer or carrier transport layer (CTL) or at various interfaces within the OPV cell architecture. With understanding of the physical plasmonic effects for Au and Ag in OPV, such plasmonic NP(s) act as a new class of strategy for performance optimization. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.