Photovoltaic Characteristics of Hybrid MEH-PPV and TiO2 Nanoparticle Based Organic Solar Cells

Abstract

The photovoltaic properties of organic solar cells based on hybrid poly [2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy-p-phenylenevinylen) (MEH-PPV) and anatase titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles as a function of TiO2 concentration were investigated. Synthesis of TiO2 nanoparticles was performed by sol-gel immerses heated method and been used as a filler in MEH-PPV polymer matrix. The hybrid MEH-PPV: TiO2 solar cells exhibited increased in light absorption and power conversion efficiency than the pristine organic solar cell. By further optimizing the concentration of TiO2 nanoparticles, the short-circuit current of the hybrid MEH-PPV: TiO2 was reached up to 0.004823 (mA/cm2) and the corresponding power conversion efficiency was 0.000378% was obtained under Air Mass 1.5 illumination which was more than 80% higher compared to the device without TiO2 nanoparticles. This indicates by embedded TiO2 nanoparticles in MEH-PPV matrix encouraging the charge transportation in the active layer of organic solar cells device.