Surface plasmon polariton mediated energy transfer in organic photovoltaic devices

Abstract

The performance of a phthalocyanine-based photovoltaic is boosted in the absorption gap between the phthalocyanine Q and Soret bands. Light absorption is decoupled from exciton diffusion using a light absorbing "antenna" layer external to the conventional charge generating layers. Radiation absorbed by the antenna is transferred into the charge generating layers via surface plasmon polaritons in an interfacial thin silver contact. The peak efficiency of energy transfer is measured to be at least ͑51± 10͒%.

Sensitization of organic photovoltaic cells based on interlayer excitation energy transfer

“…The device proposed in the present study used an APL placed internally between the anode and the cathode as an antenna; it therefore requires no thin electrode with high resistivity. In addition, the SPP-based antenna required high photoluminescence (PL) efficiency, [12] whereas the APL does not require high light emissivity. This is essentially because excitation transfer from the APL to the IPL is based on a common form of nonradiative excitation energy transfer, such as Förster resonance excitation transfer (FRET) and Dexter electron exchange excitation transfer.…”

“…[12] The antenna layer was positioned externally between the cathode and the anode, and was coupled with an organic PV component based on energy transfer via surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) through a thin Ag cathode. While the 15-20-nm-thick Ag cathode successfully increased the quantum efficiency of energy transfer from the antenna, such a thin metal electrode leads to undesirable higher series resistances.…”

Plasmon-enhanced organic solar cells with solution-processed three-dimensional Ag nanosheets

“…The inducement of plasmonics by introducing the metal nanostructures into the organic matrix is a promising approach to resolve this problem [10,11]. Plasmonic structures can improve the absorption efficiency of the photovoltaic absorber layers by preferentially scattering [12] and exciting localized surface plasmons [13,14] or plasmon polaritons [15][16][17][18][19]. Compared with other metals, plasmonic nanoparticles made of silver are easier prepared, more resistive against degradation and exhibit high absorption coefficients in a broad UV-visible-NIR spectral range due to their strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).…”

Localized surface plasmon resonance enhanced organic solar cell with gold nanospheres

“…There have been several studies about applying LSPR effect of NPs or nanostructures to improve the performance of inorganic [8,9] and organic solar cells [10][11][12][13]. Last year, Berger's group [12] have tried to add a self-assembled layer of Ag nanoparticles between PEDOT:PSS layer and P3HT:PCBM layer.…”