ZnO nanoparticles and polyaniline blend as an active layer for bulk heterojunction solar cell applications

In this work, a facile and straightforward procedure was introduced to prepare a blend as an active layer for hybrid solar cell applications. The active layer consisting of a blend of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) and polyaniline (PANI) dispersions was deposited by spin coating on ITO covered glasses. The current density–voltage characteristics were studied under AM1.5G standard illumination, without any encapsulation process. Also, the samples were studied using UV–Vis spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and field emission-scanning electron microscopy. The investigation is limited just to the active layer, so the cells were fabricated without any interlayer. The effect of various volume ratios of ZnO–NPs:PANI solutions, thickness and the annealing temperature of the active layer on the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current density of the cells were investigated. Moreover, the blending time of ZnO–NPs:PANI dispersions as a significant factor for achieving the optimum results were studied.