ENHANCED EFFICIENCY POLYMER SOLAR CELLS USING ALIGNED MAGNETIC NANOPARTICLES

摘要

Polymer solar cells with enhanced efficiency utilize an active layer formed of a composite of polymer/fullerene and Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles. During the formation of the solar cell, the composite mixture is subjected to an external magnetic field that causes the nanoparticles to align their magnetic dipole moments along the direction of the magnetic field, so as to form a plurality of Fe₃O₄ nanochains. These nanochains serve to adjust the morphology and phase separation of the polymer/fullerene, and also serve to induce an internal electrical field by spin-polarization of the nanochains serve to increase the charge separation and charge transport processes in the solar cell, enhancing the short-current density (J_sc) and ultimately, the photoelectric converted efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell.