Enhanced photovoltaic performance of ZnO nanoparticle/poly(phenylene vinylene) hybrid photovoltaic cells by semiconducting surfactant

► Developed a new organic semiconducting surfactant suitable for organic polymer/ZnO hybrid bulk heterojunction photovoltaic solar cells. ► The semiconducting surfactant improved the power conversion efficiency of ZnO/MDMO-PPV photovoltaic solar cells by ca. 60%, while an insulating surfactant, oleic acid, decreased the efficiency. ► The semiconducting surfactant improved the dispersion and the charge separation/transport at the interface according to morphology study, photoluminescence spectroscopy, and photo-induced absorption spectroscopy.