Flexible solar cells based on PEDOT:PSS and vertically aligned silicon structures

Photovoltaic properties of hybrid solar cells based on poly-(3,4 ethylenediox-ythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) and Si nanowires (SiNWs) are studied. High values of the open circuit voltage (V-OC) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) at short wavelength region obtained for planar solar cells indicate sufficient passivation properties of n-Si/PEDOT:PSS interface. A technology for filling SiNWs (6 mu m in height and 1.7 mu m in diameter) with PEDOT:PSS has been developed using G-coating. Compared with planar hy-brid cell, SiNWs/PEDOT:PSS cell exhibit lower total reflectance (similar to 12%) and higher EQE in the long wavelength region. It should be stressed that an increase in the PEDOT:PSS layer thickness by the combination of the G-coating and spin coating methods does not affect the short wavelength region of EQE. This fact is important for development of flexible solar cells based on SiNWs.