We report the first successful application of an ordered bicontinuous gyroid semiconducting network in a hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cell. The freestanding gyroid network is fabricated by electrochemical deposition into the 10 nm wide voided channels of a self-assembled, selectively degradable block copolymer film. The highly ordered pore structure is ideal for uniform infiltration of an o...

A silicon nanocrystals (Si-ncs) conjugated-polymer-based bulk-heterojunction represents a promising approach for low-cost hybrid solar cells. In this contribution, the bulk-heterojunction is based on Si-ncs prepared by electrochemical etching and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) polymer. Photoelectric properties in parallel and vertical device-like configuration were investigated. Electronic inter...

Tandem structures can boost the efficiency of organic solar cell to more than 15%, compared to the 10% limit of single layer bulk heterojunction devices. Design and fabricating of intermediate layers plays a very important role to achieve high device performance. This article will review the main experimental progresses of tandem organic solar cells, and focus on the intermediate layers (charge...

With an amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)/crystalline silicon (c-Si) heterojunction structure, the heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer (HIT) solar cell has become one of the most promising technologies for c-Si based solar cells. By replacing a-Si:H thin films with appropriate compound semiconductors, we propose novel heterojunction structures which allow c-Si heterojunction solar cells to posses...

A key parameter to improve the performance of organic solar cells is the optimization of electronic phenomena at donor–acceptor interfaces through the optimization of the morphology of the bulk heterojunction. The correlative mapping of morphological, electrical and mechanical properties at the nanoscale by advanced scanning probe microscopy techniques allows for a detailed characterization of ...

By charge neutralization of carboxylic acid groups in graphene oxide (GO) with Cs(2)CO(3) to afford Cesium-neutralized GO (GO-Cs), GO derivatives with appropriate modification are used as both hole- and electron-extraction layers for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. The normal and inverted devices based on GO hole- and GO-Cs electron-extraction layers both outperform the corresponding sta...

The technological attraction in organic solar cells is their compatibility to printing processes. However, up to today, nearly no literature on "printed" organic solar cells have been published and the major body of the research work was done by spin coating or blading techniques. Transferring the spin-coating or doctor blading process currently used for the fabrication of bulk heterojunction s...

8:30 AM Plenary Low Cost “Plastic” Solar Cells: A Dream or Reality???: Alan Heeger1; 1University of California, Santa Barbara Polymer solar cells with power conversion efficiencies in excess of 5% are demonstrated using bulk heterojunction materials. Spatial Fourier transform methods have been used to study and optimize the morphology. Light harvesting has been improved by using a novel low-ban...