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Wet‐milled anatase titanium oxide nanoparticles as a buffer layer for air‐stable bulk heterojunction solar cells
Author(s) -
Huang JenHsien,
Ibrahem Mohammed Aziz,
Chu ChihWei
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.2522
Subject(s) - anatase , materials science , chemical engineering , heterojunction , solar cell , titanium oxide , nanoparticle , oxide , layer (electronics) , spin coating , rutile , titanium , nanotechnology , ultraviolet , coating , photocatalysis , optoelectronics , chemistry , metallurgy , organic chemistry , catalysis , engineering
In this study, an air‐stable bulk heterojunction organic solar cell demonstrated by utilization of titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles as a hole blocking layer was prepared through high‐energy grinding method. The large clumps of the anatase TiO 2 underwent deaggregation to form a stable dispersed solution during the grinding process. The resultant suspension can form a uniform and smooth TiO 2 film through spin coating on various substrates. Because of substantial oxygen and water protection effect of TiO 2 thin film, the bulk heterojunction solar cells exhibit a significant long‐term stability. It is also found that the cell performance can be promoted dramatically after ultraviolet activation. The mechanism responsible for the enhanced cell efficiency was also investigated. This solution‐based method does not require surfactants, thus preserving the intrinsic electronic and optical properties of TiO 2 that makes these proposed buffer layers quite attractive for next‐generation flexible devices appealing high conductivity and transparency. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.