Nanostructured p-type cobalt layered double hydroxide/n-type polymer bulk heterojunction yields an inexpensive photovoltaic cell

Birgit Schwenzer; James R. Neilson; Kevin Sivula; Claire Woo; Jean M.J. Fréchet; Daniel E. Morse

doi:10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131

Nanostructured p-type cobalt layered double hydroxide/n-type polymer bulk heterojunction yields an inexpensive photovoltaic cell

Birgit Schwenzer, James R. Neilson, Kevin Sivula, Claire Woo, Jean M.J. Fréchet, Daniel E. Morse^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

37 Scopus citations

Abstract

A low-cost, environmentally benign method was used to prepare nanostructured thin films of Co₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂·2H₂O, a layered double hydroxide p-type semiconductor. When infilled with poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), an n-type semiconducting polymer, the resulting hybrid bulk heterojunction yields a photovoltaic device. The indium-doped tin oxide/Co₅(OH)₈(NO₃)₂·2H₂O/P3BT/Al cell described here is an unprecedented example of an optoelectronic device fabricated by a low-cost biologically inspired pathway independent of organic structure-directing agents. Under illumination, this proof-of-principle device yields an open circuit voltage of 1.38 V, a short circuit current of 9 μA/cm², a fill factor of 26% and a power efficiency of 3.2·10^{- 3}%. While the open circuit voltage of this prototype cell is close to its theoretical maximum, potential sources of the observed low efficiency are identified, and a suggested path for improvement is discussed.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	5722-5727
Number of pages	6
Journal	Thin Solid Films
Volume	517
Issue number	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131
State	Published - Aug 3 2009
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Biologically inspired inorganic material
Cobalt layered double hydroxide
Electrical properties and measurements
Inorganic p-type semiconductor
Organic/inorganic hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cell
Scanning electron microscopy
X-ray diffraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Surfaces and Interfaces
Surfaces, Coatings and Films
Metals and Alloys
Materials Chemistry

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131

Cite this

@article{090e4952232143e08f91d10a7e4b9ad5,

title = "Nanostructured p-type cobalt layered double hydroxide/n-type polymer bulk heterojunction yields an inexpensive photovoltaic cell",

abstract = "A low-cost, environmentally benign method was used to prepare nanostructured thin films of Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, a layered double hydroxide p-type semiconductor. When infilled with poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), an n-type semiconducting polymer, the resulting hybrid bulk heterojunction yields a photovoltaic device. The indium-doped tin oxide/Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O/P3BT/Al cell described here is an unprecedented example of an optoelectronic device fabricated by a low-cost biologically inspired pathway independent of organic structure-directing agents. Under illumination, this proof-of-principle device yields an open circuit voltage of 1.38 V, a short circuit current of 9 μA/cm2, a fill factor of 26% and a power efficiency of 3.2·10- 3%. While the open circuit voltage of this prototype cell is close to its theoretical maximum, potential sources of the observed low efficiency are identified, and a suggested path for improvement is discussed.",

keywords = "Biologically inspired inorganic material, Cobalt layered double hydroxide, Electrical properties and measurements, Inorganic p-type semiconductor, Organic/inorganic hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cell, Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction",

author = "Birgit Schwenzer and Neilson, {James R.} and Kevin Sivula and Claire Woo and Fr{\'e}chet, {Jean M.J.} and Morse, {Daniel E.}",

year = "2009",

month = aug,

day = "3",

doi = "10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "517",

pages = "5722--5727",

journal = "Thin Solid Films",

issn = "0040-6090",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

number = "19",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Nanostructured p-type cobalt layered double hydroxide/n-type polymer bulk heterojunction yields an inexpensive photovoltaic cell

AU - Schwenzer, Birgit

AU - Neilson, James R.

AU - Sivula, Kevin

AU - Woo, Claire

AU - Fréchet, Jean M.J.

AU - Morse, Daniel E.

PY - 2009/8/3

Y1 - 2009/8/3

N2 - A low-cost, environmentally benign method was used to prepare nanostructured thin films of Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, a layered double hydroxide p-type semiconductor. When infilled with poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), an n-type semiconducting polymer, the resulting hybrid bulk heterojunction yields a photovoltaic device. The indium-doped tin oxide/Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O/P3BT/Al cell described here is an unprecedented example of an optoelectronic device fabricated by a low-cost biologically inspired pathway independent of organic structure-directing agents. Under illumination, this proof-of-principle device yields an open circuit voltage of 1.38 V, a short circuit current of 9 μA/cm2, a fill factor of 26% and a power efficiency of 3.2·10- 3%. While the open circuit voltage of this prototype cell is close to its theoretical maximum, potential sources of the observed low efficiency are identified, and a suggested path for improvement is discussed.

AB - A low-cost, environmentally benign method was used to prepare nanostructured thin films of Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O, a layered double hydroxide p-type semiconductor. When infilled with poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT), an n-type semiconducting polymer, the resulting hybrid bulk heterojunction yields a photovoltaic device. The indium-doped tin oxide/Co5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O/P3BT/Al cell described here is an unprecedented example of an optoelectronic device fabricated by a low-cost biologically inspired pathway independent of organic structure-directing agents. Under illumination, this proof-of-principle device yields an open circuit voltage of 1.38 V, a short circuit current of 9 μA/cm2, a fill factor of 26% and a power efficiency of 3.2·10- 3%. While the open circuit voltage of this prototype cell is close to its theoretical maximum, potential sources of the observed low efficiency are identified, and a suggested path for improvement is discussed.

KW - Biologically inspired inorganic material

KW - Cobalt layered double hydroxide

KW - Electrical properties and measurements

KW - Inorganic p-type semiconductor

KW - Organic/inorganic hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cell

KW - Scanning electron microscopy

KW - X-ray diffraction

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=66049091198&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131

DO - 10.1016/j.tsf.2009.02.131

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:66049091198

SN - 0040-6090

VL - 517

SP - 5722

EP - 5727

JO - Thin Solid Films

JF - Thin Solid Films

IS - 19

ER -

Nanostructured p-type cobalt layered double hydroxide/n-type polymer bulk heterojunction yields an inexpensive photovoltaic cell

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this