Density-controlled ZnO nanorod arrays in polymer solar cells based on Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and indene-C60 Bis-Adduct

We investigated the effect of employing ZnO nanorods in an inverted polymer solar cell based on Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and Indene-C60 Bis-Adduct. Hydrothermal method was chosen to growth of vertically aligned ZnO nanorods on 30 nm thick ZnO seed layer. The samples were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electrical conductivity measurements. Indene-C60 Bis-Adduct, as new acceptor with higher-lying LUMO energy level than PCBM blended with P3HT. Efficient infiltration of polymer into interspaces between nanorod arrays concluded to improved performance of the device. Photovoltaic characteristic of inverted polymer solar cell with ZnO nanorods were compared with devices employed ZnO thin film. Inverted polymer solar cell based on Poly (3-hexylthiophene) and Indene-C60 Bis-Adduct hybridized with ZnO nanorods exhibited power conversion efficiency of 4.04% that was better than a device with ZnO thin film interlayer (3.80%).