Efficiency improvement of PCDTBT solar cells with silver nanoparticles

We synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) with particle sizes ∼6 nm, and also investigated the effect of Ag NPs on the performance of polymer solar cells. It is seen that Ag NPs improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of poly[N-9′′-hepta-decanyl-2,7-carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole) (PCDTBT) solar cells. PCE increased from 0.65 to 1.72 with incorporation of Ag NPs. Hole and electron recombination time (τn) was calculated with impedance spectroscopy as 0.4 ms for PCDTBT solar cells with nanoparticles and 1.26 ms for PCDTBT solar cells without nanoparticles.

► We fabricated the PCDTBT organic solar cells with Ag NPs for the first time.
► Ag NPs improved power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PCDTBT solar cells.
► PCE increased from 0.65 to 1.72 with incorporation of Ag nanoparticles.
► τn values for PCDTBT solar cells with Ag NPs and PCDTBT solar cells without Ag NPs are 0.4 ms and 1.26 ms, respectively.