Lithium doped poly(3-hexylthiophene) for efficient hole transporter and sensitizer in metal free quaterthiophene dye treated hybrid solar cells

Abstract

This work focuses on the role of Lithium doped Poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) in metal-free quaterthiophene (4T) dye treated Titanium dioxide (TiO2) based hybrid solar cells. The dye treated hybrid solar cells with Lithium doped P3HT showed efficiencies (3.95%) of nearly a factor of four times higher than the pristine P3HT based control TiO2/4T/P3HT devices (1.04%). The enhancement of the efficiency is mainly due to highly efficient charge collection attributed to enhanced charge transport and light harvesting properties of Lithium doped P3HT polymer. The optimized solar cells with Lithium doped P3HT showed a high short circuit current density over 13 mA/cm2, under simulated irradiation of intensity 100 mW/cm2 with AM 1.5 filter. This significant increase in current density in TiO2/4T/doped P3HT solar cell is also confirmed by both the broadened External Quantum Efficiency spectrum and significant photoluminescence quenching upon replacement of pristine P3HT with doped P3HT on 4T dye treated TiO2 electrode. With Lithium doped Spiro-OMeTAD instead of Lithium doped P3HT, similar devices showed efficiencies over 3.30% under simulated irradiation of 100 mW/cm2 with AM 1.5 filter.

Roles of Interfacial Modifiers in Inorganic Titania/Organic Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Heterojunction Hybrid Solar Cells

“…The combined use of copolymers and additives with P3HT may effectively modulate further enhancement of interfacial interactions between the TiO 2 and P3HT nanocomposite. On this aspect, recently, both hexyl-substituted thiophene ring based 4T dye and P3HT were employed in titania based HSC along with lithium component as dopant for P3HT, and a high of 13 mA/cm 2 with highest PCE of 3.95% in dye modified HSCs was reported [ 95 ]. This enhanced performance is probably due to the increased charge transport and betterment of light harvesting properties of Lithium doped P3HT along with 4T interface modifier at TiO 2 /doped P3HT interface ( Figure 7 ).…”

“…thiophene ring based 4T dye and P3HT were employed in titania based HSC along with lithium component as dopant for P3HT, and a high of 13 mA/cm 2 with highest PCE of 3.95% in dye modified HSCs was reported [95]. This enhanced performance is probably due to the increased charge transport and betterment of light harvesting properties of Lithium doped P3HT along with 4T interface modifier at TiO2/doped P3HT interface (Figure 7).…”

Potential transition and post-transition metal sulfides as efficient electrodes for energy storage applications: review

“…Its development and the respective technological enhancement are crucial to address the emerging environmental problems associated with the current use of fossil fuels [1][2][3] as the proposed energy conservation/ storage devices shall be cost-effective, and more reliable with integrated generation of sources and reduced environmental impacts. [4][5][6][7][8] Moreover, an improved energy storage system is essential for the efficient utilization of solar, hydro, and wind energies. [9][10][11] Such energy storage devices could be used in various applications with specic requirements.…”