A hybridized electron-selective layer using Sb-doped SnO2 nanowires for efficient inverted polymer solar cells

We developed a novel hybridized electron-selective layer comprised of Sb-doped SnO2 nanowires for efficient inverted polymer solar cells. A device containing Sb-doped SnO2 nanowires with 0.1 mg/ml concentration showed a significant increase in power conversion efficiency to 3.23% with an enhanced fill factor, compared to a reference device without the nanowires (2.89%). Such improvement is attributed to the high electrical conductivity of one-dimensional Sb-doped SnO2 nanowires and to the good light transmittance through the wide band gap of tin oxide. Also the surface morphology of the hybridized electron-selective layer is made denser and improved by incorporating one-dimensional Sb-doped SnO2 nanowires, resulting in the enhancement of the photovoltaic performance. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.