Nanocomposites for Enhancing Current in Organic Solar Cells

The enhancement of charge collection in organic photovoltaics by using nanocomposite materials is investigated. Two such approaches are detailed in this thesis. Chapter 1 addresses the addition of metal nanorods to the PEDOT layer of an organic solar cell in an attempt to focus incident light for better absorption by the polymer layer. Composites designed to facilitate charge transfer from nanoparticles to the polymer/fullerene system are the focus of the second chapter. Chapter 3 details a refinement to the research presented in chapter 2, adding fullerenes to the mix and creating ternary systems and providing an analytical framework for evaluating these systems. The material choices are expanded in chapter 4; we investigate a new, lower band gap conjugated polymer (PCPDTBT) as well as core-shell nanoparticles and how they interact in the system. Results are reported and further avenues of research are suggested.

Grantor dc:publisher

Wake Forest University

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Peterson, Eric David

• conjugated polymers

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37435

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:wakespace.lib.wfu.edu:10339/37435