Hybrid Photovoltaics – from Fundamentals towards Application

Abstract

In hybrid photovoltaics, an organic and an inorganic semiconductor are combined in the active layer, with the advantages of both material classes in a single device. The organic component contributes towards the possibility for wet chemical device preparation with potentially low costs in combination with achieving flexible devices. From the inorganic component an increase in stability, as well as superior opto‐electronic properties, is added. Given the large diversity of organic and inorganic semiconductors, a large number of possible realizations of hybrid solar cells emerge. In the present review, we limit to hybrid solar cells which combine conjugated polymers with inorganic materials such as titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, silicon, germanium and quantum dots to keep focused. Particular emphasis is put on different routes to tailor nanostructures, such as the use of semiconductor block copolymers. The inorganic component is either synthesized directly in one of the blocks or added as a pre‐synthesized nanomaterial to form the hybrid material. Alternatively, the block copolymer is used as a structure‐directing template in a sol–gel synthesis approach to have tailored inorganic nanostructures, which are back‐filled with the organic component to fabricate the hybrid material. Hybrid solar cells based on crystalline Si are discussed for comparison.

Intermetalloid Clusters: Molecules and Solids in a Dialogue

“…[133] Recently,t he bimetallic Zintl cluster precursors [Pt 2 Sn 9 (PPh 3 )] 2À and [Sn 9 Ir(COD)] 3À were used to obtain intermetallic nanoparticles PtSn 4 and Ir 3 Sn 7 in al ow-temperature synthesis. A PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) template-assisted synthetic protocol (Figure 25) [136] allows for the formation of nanoporous pristine and doped germanium films with inverse opal structure and potential use in hybrid solar cells [137] or thin film anodes. [135] In recent years the application of these clusters as Ge source for the fabrication of Ge nanomorphologies with tunable composition was developed by their controlled solidification.…”

“…In recent years the application of these clusters as Ge source for the fabrication of Ge nanomorphologies with tunable composition was developed by their controlled solidification. A PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate) template‐assisted synthetic protocol (Figure ) allows for the formation of nanoporous pristine and doped germanium films with inverse opal structure and potential use in hybrid solar cells or thin film anodes …”

Intermetalloide Cluster: Moleküle und Festkörper im Dialog

“…[133] Vork urzem wurden die bimetallischen Zintl-Cluster-Precursor [Pt 2 Sn 9 (PPh 3 )] 2À und [Sn 9 Ir(COD)] 3À genutzt, um die intermetallischen Nanopartikel PtSn 4 und Ir 3 Sn 7 mittels Tieftemperatursynthese zu erhalten. Ein Syntheseprotokoll mit PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylat) als Templat (Abbildung 25) [136] ermçglicht die Bildung von nanoporçsen, geordneten und dotierten Germaniumfilmen mit inverser Opalstruktur und potentiellen Anwendungen als Hybridsolarzellen [137] oder Dünnschicht-Anoden. [135] In den letzten Jahren wurde die Anwendung dieser Cluster als Ge-Quelle fürd ie Herstellung von Ge-Nanomorphologienm it einstellbarer Zusammensetzung durch ihre kontrollierte Solidifikation entwickelt.…”

“…[135] In den letzten Jahren wurde die Anwendung dieser Cluster als Ge-Quelle fürd ie Herstellung von Ge-Nanomorphologienm it einstellbarer Zusammensetzung durch ihre kontrollierte Solidifikation entwickelt. Ein Syntheseprotokoll mit PMMA (Polymethylmethacrylat) als Templat (Abbildung 25) [136] ermçglicht die Bildung von nanoporçsen, geordneten und dotierten Germaniumfilmen mit inverser Opalstruktur und potentiellen Anwendungen als Hybridsolarzellen [137] oder Dünnschicht-Anoden. […”

Comparing the backfilling of mesoporous titania thin films with hole conductors of different sizes sharing the same mass density

“…Especially in photovoltaic applications, a delicate balance between maximizing the active material volume while minimizing charge carrier pathway distances and preventing loss mechanisms such as incomplete backfilling or short-circuit channels must be found (Snaith et al, 2008). The formation of bulk heterojunction morphologies has proven to be a successful approach in achieving these properties with several fabrication methods existing, either by direct blending of two materials, addition of nanoparticles to a polymer solution or by sol-gel synthesis of inorganic nanostructures with subsequent polymer backfilling (Barbé et al, 1997;Mü ller-Buschbaum et al, 2017;Coakley et al, 2005). For the latter case, mesoporous titania has been found to be a highly auspicious material in organic-inorganic bulk heterojunctions due to its stability (Zhang & Banfield, 1998), versatility (Su et al, 2012;Rajeshwar et al, 2001), properties as an electron conductor, as well as relative nontoxicity (Shi et al, 2013), abundance and availability (Primo et al, 2011).…”