Metallic nanoparticles in active layer for hybrid photovoltaic device applications

• A P3HT:PCBM:TiO2 hybrid film was applied as an active layer.
• Effect of Pt content on the efficiency of a solar cell was examined.
• Solar cell with a 3.26% efficiency was fabricated.

In this study, Poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT): [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric (PCBM): titania (TiO2): platinum (Pt) nanoparticles (NPs) hybrid films were prepared and used as the active layer of solar cells. The use of nano-Pt in hybrid films may increase the efficiency of solar cells because of its high carrier mobility. The polyol reduction reaction was used to synthesize inorganic Pt NPs by dissolving H2PtCl6·6H2O in ethylene glycol and refluxing the solvent for several hours. Then, the prepared Pt NPs were used to prepare the solar cells. The experimental results showed that the short-circuit current density and efficiency of solar cells increased from 7.31 mA/cm2 and 2.17% to 10.10 mA/cm2 and 3.26%, respectively. In addition, the value of incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency reached 55% as 0.03 wt.% Pt NPs were added into the active layer P3HT:PCBM:TiO2.