Gold nanomesh induced surface plasmon for photocurrent enhancement in a polymer solar cell

In this study, a gold (Au) nanomesh layer was manufactured on an ITO-coated glass substrate at room temperature. The Au nanomesh was used to induce surface plasmon resonance (SPR) to enhance the photocurrent of a polymer solar cell. The Au nanomesh was manufactured by lift-off on closely packed PS nanospheres (diameter ∼50 nm; density ∼1010/cm2). The PS nanospheres were fabricated by modified block copolymer nano-patterning on ITO. A transmittance–reflection–absorbance spectrum was used to explore the induced surface plasmon. An extinction peak was observed at ∼580 nm indicate the possibility of Au nanomesh induced surface plasmon resonance. The short-circuit current density of the polymer solar cell was enhanced from 7.02 to 14.2 mA/cm2 by the addition of Au nanomesh. Consequently, the power conversion efficiency enhanced from 1.9% to 3.2%. By the normalized input photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) measurement, enhanced photocurrent conversion efficiency at approximately 580 nm was observed that coincided with the extinction spectrum, indicating that the surface plasmon enhanced the photocurrent.

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► A gold nanomesh was used as plasmon resonance source in a polymer solar cell.
► A gold nanomesh with 50 nm in size and density of ∼1010/cm2 was fabricated.
► The photocurrent for a polymer solar cell could enhanced as many as 100% by Au nanomesh plasmon effect.