Silver-Nanoparticle-Assisted Photocurrent Generation in Polythiophene–Fullerene Thin Films

Abstract

We have investigated the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgPs) on the photocurrent generation of a polyphiophene-fullerene photovoltaic film. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methylester (PCBM) were used for the electron donor and acceptor, respectively. First, AgPs were electrostatically deposited upon the surface of an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode via a polycation. Then, a film of P3HT or a mixture of P3HT and PCBM was prepared by spin coating. The thickness of the film was evaluated by atomic force microscopy. Absorption and fluorescence spectral measurements were carried out to investigate the effects of AgPs. Photocurrent spectra were also measured, and the effects of AgPs on photocurrent enhancement were verified.

Effects of silver nanoparticles with different sizes on photochemical responses of polythiophene–fullerene thin films

“…AgPs were synthesized as reported previously. 14,16,40 In the case of 64 nm AgPs, 38 mg of AgNO 3 was dissolved in 200 mL of ultrapure water. After refluxing under a N 2 atmosphere, 4 mL of 1 wt% aqueous solution of Na 3 C 6 H 5 O 7 Á2H 2 O was added and then the mixture was refluxed for 30 min giving the colloidal solution of AgPs with an average diameter of 64.1 AE 1.4 nm (average AE standard error, n = 40).…”

“…As reported before, incorporation of AgPs between the surface of the ITO electrode and P3HT:PCBM film showed an improvement in photoelectric conversion. 16,17 In this study, the effect of deposited AgPs with different diameters (7 and 64 nm) on the photocurrent of P3HT:PCBM films were investigated.…”

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12] We previously reported that both AuPs and AgPs are capable of improving the photoelectric conversion in the organic thin films. [12][13][14][15][16][17] It is well known that scattering from metal nanoparticles can improve the light absorption by trapping light in the active layer of OSCs. [18][19][20][21] Also, the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) property of metal nanoparticles (MNPs) can increase the excitation of molecules around nanoparticles.…”

Effects of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles on Photon Upconversion Based on Sensitized Triplet-Triplet Annihilation

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Recently, we found the large enhancement of photocurrents of a porphyrin or a phthalocyanine derivative or a poly(3-hexylthiophene) as an organic dye in dye-metal NPs composite films on indium-tin-oxide (ITO) electrodes were performed by the electrostatic layer-by-layer adsorption technique [4][5][6][7][8][9][11][12][13] . We also found the remarkable enhancements of photocurrent responses in the composite films of donor -acceptor linked compound and metal NP [silver nanoparticle (AgNP) or gold nanoparticle (AuNP)] on ITO electrodes attributable to the combination of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) due to AgNP or AuNP and photoinduced intramolecular electron-transfer.…”

Electropolymerized Polythiophene Photoelectrodes with Density-Controlled Gold Nanoparticles

“…In recent years, we − and other groups − have developed photoelectrodes and solar cells with metal nanostructures of gold and silver. It is widely known that localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of noble metal nanostructures can be applied to the enhancements of photocurrent and luminescence signals from organic dye molecules.…”