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Improved energy harvesting using well-aligned ZnS nanoparticles in bulk-heterojunction organic solar cell

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Abstract

Zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by low temperature colloidal chemistry to produce stable zinc blend structure. The metallic ZnS NPs were incorporated into poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend photoactive layer to improve the overall performance of organic solar cells (OSC). The newly fabricated devices have exhibited enhanced photocurrent which is likely to come from utilizing the near-field and light scattering effects due to the NPs. The short-circuit current density of the best solar cell was enhanced to as high as 15.65 mA cm−2 followed by 51% and 4.0% maximum fill-factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), respectively. This enhancement is very comparable to those obtained from the use of expensive plasmonic gold and silver nanoparticles. The current results are encouraging to improve the performance of OSC through a facile yet cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach of metal nanoparticles synthesis.

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Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by National Research Foundation (NRF), South Africa. The authors also grateful to members of staff of Materials Characterisation section at National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA), Microscopy and Microanalysis Unit (MMU) at the School of Life Sciences in the University of KwaZulu-Natal for SEM, XRD and EDX analysis.

Funding

Funding was provided by National Research Foundation South Africa (Grant No. 113831).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemistry & Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg Campus, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, 3209, South Africa

    Mpilo W. Dlamini, Mohammed S. G. Hamed, Xolani G. Mbuyise & Genene T. Mola

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  1. Mpilo W. Dlamini
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  2. Mohammed S. G. Hamed
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  3. Xolani G. Mbuyise
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  4. Genene T. Mola
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Correspondence to Genene T. Mola.

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Dlamini, M.W., Hamed, M.S.G., Mbuyise, X.G. et al. Improved energy harvesting using well-aligned ZnS nanoparticles in bulk-heterojunction organic solar cell. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 31, 9415–9422 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-020-03481-w

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