Plasmonic enhanced polymer solar cell with inclusion of Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanostructures

In this work, the effect of Ag@SiO2 core-shell nanostructure (NS) on photovoltaic characteristics of polymer solar cell has been studied. Addition of Ag@SiO2 nanostructure containing SiO2 dielectric shell into the polymer solar cell eliminates the influence of metal nanoparticles (NP) to electron transfer between the polymer and the metal nanoparticles. The efficiency of the polymer solar cell was increased by 60% for the optimal concentration of Ag@SiO2 NSs (10(-8) mol/L) in the PEDOT:PSS film. The increased efficiency of the polymer solar cell with inclusion of Ag@SiO2 nanostructure in PEDOT:PSS film was ascribed to a decrease of the electrical resistance of the PEDOT:PSS layer and enhancement of light harvesting by light scattering of Ag@SiO2 nanostructure in the polymer solar cell. The mechanism and kinetics of the plasmonic enhanced polymer solar cell were explained by IPCE, time-resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy, and EIS studies.