Shape-dependent light harvesting of 3D gold nanocrystals on bulk heterojunction solar cells: Plasmonic or optical scattering effect?

Wei Hsuan Tseng, Chun Ya Chiu, Shang Wei Chou, Hsieh Chih Chen, Meng Lin Tsai, Ya Ching Kuo, Der Hsien Lien, Yu Chi Tsao, Kuo You Huang, Chih Ting Yeh, Jr Hau He, Chih I. Wu*, Michael H. Huang, Pi Tai Chou

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the work, mechanisms behind various 3D nanocrystals enhanced performance of bulk heterojunction solar cells were studied comprehensively. Four types of gold nanoparticles (NPs) with distinctly different shapes and great uniformity were designed and synthesized, including cubes, rhombic dodecahedra (RD), edge- and corner-truncated octahedra (ECTO), and triangular plates, to systematically probe their influences on photovoltaics. RD and triangular plates show a higher growth rate, while slower growth favors cubes and ECTO formation by controlling the reduction agent and capping ion amount. NPs with increasing corners and proper size of cross-section induce stronger near-field coupling and far-field scattering in P3HT:PC61BM-based active layers. Both finite-difference time-domain simulation and UV-visible absorption spectra firmly support that RD exhibit the strongest localized surface plasmon resonance and optical scattering. With optimized conditions, a high power conversion efficiency exceeding 4% was reproducibly achieved.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7554-7564
Number of pages11
JournalJOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY C
Volume119
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 9 2015

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films

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