Synthesis of hybrid solar cells using CdS nanowire array grown on conductive glass substrates

High-density CdS nanowire (NW) arrays were successfully grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates by vapor–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism at a remarkably reduced temperature of ∼450 °C. Bi catalyst layer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) played a major role in the low-temperature synthesis of high-quality CdS NW arrays. CdS NWs were defect free single crystalline Wurtzite crystals and they were 50–100 nm and 2–5 μm in diameter and length, respectively. CdS NWs were combined with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), a conjugated polymer to form organic–inorganic hybrid structures. The UV–visible light absorption and emission behavior of MEH-PPV/CdS hybrids was investigated and their potential to be used as photovoltaic cells was demonstrated.