Fabrication of an Efficient Planar Organic-Silicon Hybrid Solar Cell with a 150 nm Thick Film of PEDOT: PSS

Abstract

Organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells composed of p-type conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene): polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) and n-type silicon (Si) have gained considerable interest in recent years. From this viewpoint, we present an efficient hybrid solar cell based on PEDOT: PSS and the planar Si substrate (1 0 0) with the simplest and cost-effective experimental procedures. We study and optimize the thickness of the PEDOT: PSS film to improve the overall performance of the device. We also study the effect of ethylene glycol (EG) by employing a different wt % as a solvent in the PEDOT: PSS to improve the device’s performance. Silver (Ag) was deposited by electron beam evaporation as the front and rear contacts for the solar cell device. The whole fabrication process was completed in less than three hours. A power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 5.1%, an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 598 mV, and a fill factor (FF) of 58% were achieved.