Solution processed TiO2/BiFeO3/poly(3-hexylthiophene) solar cells

• Solution processing of ITO/TiO2/ BiFeO3/poly(3-hexylthiophene) solar cell.
• X-ray diffraction reveals polycrystalline BiFeO3 film with rhombohedral texture.
• Solar cell produced 0.05 mA cm−2 and an open circuit voltage of −0.46 V.

We report the fabrication of solar cells by spin-coating and annealing sol–gel layers of TiO2 and BiFeO3 on indium oxide coated glass substrates. A layer of poly(3-hexylthiophene) was spin coated onto the inorganic layers to form hybrid organic–inorganic solar cells. X-ray powder diffraction revealed the BiFeO3 layers are polycrystalline with rhombohedral texture and average crystallite size about 20 nm. Scanning electron microscopy images showed the films are granular and microporous. Irradiation with visible light resulted in a photocurrent of 0.05 mA cm−2 and an open circuit voltage of −0.46 V.

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