Application of Fe-doped SnO2 nanoparticles in organic solar cells with enhanced stability

Solution-processed P3HT:PCBM-based bulk heterojunction organic solar cells were constructed with Fe-doped tin oxide (Fe/SnO2) magnetic nanoparticles (NP) incorporated to the active layer. Performance and stability of devices were evaluated. Devices reinforced with Fe/SnO2 nanoparticles showed improvement in short-circuit current density Jsc up to 10%, when compared with devices without the addition of NPs. Improved Jsc was attributed to the extension of photogenerated exciton lifetime as a result of the magnetic field provided by the NPs. Life time and stability tests revealed extended T80 for samples reinforced with NPs for both indoor and outdoor tests, which can be attributed to slightly improvements of fill factor during aging tests. Moreover, NP-reinforced devices have shown the tendency to overcome the burn-in regime faster. These results are indications that the addition of diluted magnetic semiconductor oxide nanoparticles in the active layer of organic solar cells has the potential to contributed to the extension of lifetime and improvement of stability of these devices.