Enhancement in Photovoltaic Properties of Plasmonic Nanostructures Incorporated Organic Solar Cells Processed in Air Using P3HT:PCBM as a Model Active Layer

Abstract: The effect of incorporation of plasmonicgold (Au) nanoparticle at the interface between trans-parent front electrode and hole transporting layer ofmolybdenum trioxide is studied using bulk hetero-junction organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) of poly-3-hexylthiophene and phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl es-ter (P3HT:PC 61 BM) fabricated in ambient air conditionas a model system. The current-voltage measurement ofITO/MoO 3 /P3HT:PC 61 BM/Al and Au incorporated OPVsunder AM1.5G light of intensity 1 Sun showed 16% in-crease in short circuit current density (J SC ) and a 25%improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE) withtheincorporationofAunanoparticles.Theexternalquan-tumefficiency(EQE)measurementshowedvaluesvaryingfrom 40% to 60% over a wavelength range 350 nm to700nmwithEQEenhancementoverabroadspectralwin-dow.ScanningelectronmicroscopestudieswereusedtostudythemorphologyoftheAunanoparticlesmade. Keywords: Organic solar cells, Bulk heterojunction,P3HT:PCBM,Metaloxideinterfaciallayer,Plasmonics