GaAs nanowire/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cells: the relationship between nanowire morphology and device performance

摘要

We have demonstrated a new type of hybrid solar cell based on a heterojunction between poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and vertically aligned n-type GaAs nanowire (NW) arrays. The GaAs NW arrays are directly fabricated by the nano-etching of GaAs wafer with spun-on SiO_2 nanospheres as the etching mask through inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-REE) system. Then we attach GaAs NW arrays onto PEDOT:PSS conductive polymer to form a p-n junction. According to our research, the morphology of GaAs NW arrays strongly influences the characteristics of the GaAs NW/PEDOT:PSS hybrid solar cells. The improved interpenetrating heterojunction interface and the suppressed reflectance of GaAs NW arrays will offer great improvements in efficiency relative to a conventional planar cell. The power conversion efficiency of 5.8 % of GaAs NW/PEDOT:PSS cells under AM 1.5 global one sun illumination can be achieved.