Broadband plasmon-enhanced polymer solar cells with power conversion efficiency of 9.26% using mixed Au nanoparticles

As-synthesized Au nanoparticles (NPs) composed of bone-like and rod shapes and a minority of cube and irregular spheres, generating three localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) peaks of 525, 575, and 775 nm, were doped into poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(4-styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) layer and realized a power conversion efficiency of as high as 9.26% in our polymer solar cells. Optical, electrical, and morphology changes induced by Au NPs were analyzed and results demonstrate that the outstanding device performance is mainly attributed to the LSPR- and scattering-induced absorption enhancement in the active layer. Besides, mixed Au NPs also decreased the bulk resistance of PEDOT:PSS, which is found to facilitate hole transport and collection.