DESIGNING AND FABRICATION OF PLASMONIC SOLAR CELLS BY INCORPORATING MWTAL NANOPARTICLES

Abstract

This dissertation gives a comparison of photovoltaic performance of bulk hetrojunction solar cell using blends of poly (3-hexylthiophne) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61- butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) with the ZnS doped P3HT and PCBM blends incorporating polyaniline nanotubes using common organic solvents and spin coating technique. ZnS nanoparticles were synthesized by aqueous method. Prior to these processes, fabrication and designing of solar cells, right from the initial steps such as patterning of ITO coated glass, etching, cleaning and subsequent processes were performed. Characterization with AFM and SEM show particles are monodisperse and spherical in shape. The blue shift of optical adsorption edge indicates the formation of particles in nanometer regime. The main advantages of such cells are easy preparation, low process temperature, low cost materials & processing technology and the possibility to produce flexible devices on plastic substrates. Such flexible cells are therefore candidates for gamut of applications, from handheld electronics to commercial power production.