Surface plasmon enhancement of polymer solar cells by penetrating Au/SiO2 core/shell nanoparticles into all organic layers

Large Au@SiO2 core/shell NPs were incorporated into P3HT:PCBM BHJ-PSC devices, resulting in the penetration of Au@SiO2 NPs into all organic layers. PCE of the device is enhanced by ∼16 % at the optimum Au@SiO2 NPs doping ratio of 2 wt%, and the efficiency enhancement is originated from the pure LSPR effect.