Quantum dot sensitized solar cell based on poly (3-hexyl thiophene)/CdSe nanocomposites

• P3HT/CdSe nanocomposites were synthesized by insitu polymerization; synthesized P3HT was regioregular one.
• The absorption wavelength shifted to shorter wavelength which confirmed the quantum confinement effect.
• A power conversion efficiency of 0.22% was achieved with the device based on P3HT/CdSe nanocomposites.

The optoelectronic properties of P3HT–CdSe nanocomposites prepared by insitu chemical oxidative polymerization were studied. CdSe QDs were synthesized by hot injection method using tri octyl phosphine oxide (TOPO) as capping ligand whereas the P3HT polymer was prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization. FTIR studies confirmed the regioregularity of the P3HT and revealed the chemical interaction of P3HT and CdSe in nanocomposite. Absorption studies showed blue shift for the nanocomposites as compare to pristine P3HT, the electron transfer from conducting polymer to the CdSe was detected by the measurements of quenching of photoluminescence from conducting polymer after the addition of semiconductor nano crystals which confirmed that an optimum amount of nanoparticles provide networking in hybrid composites. The optimal result for device prepared by P3HT–CdSe nanocomposites was open circuit voltage (Voc) 0.5, short circuit current density (Jsc) 0.66, Fill factor (FF) 0.6855 and efficiency (η) 0.22%.