Journal of Cluster Science

, Volume 22, Issue 1, pp 59–64 | Cite as

Metallic Nanoantennae and their Use in Organic-Polymer Photovoltaics

  • Eric Peterson
  • Patrick N. Sisco
  • Catherine J. Murphy
  • Richard D. Adams
  • David Carroll
Original Paper
First Online:
Received:

Abstract

The potential of gold nanorods to act as “antennae” in organic photovoltaic devices and improve performance by enhancing the optical field within the device has been examined. Gold nanorods were blended into the buffer layer of standard poly (3-hexothiopene) (P3HT): 6, 6-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) photovoltaic cells. Increases in both the broad spectrum absorption and device fill factors (as compared to solar cells without nanorods) were observed. A comparison of the internal resistance and absorption allows estimation of what part in the change in performance can be attributed to greater absorption and increases in buffer layer conductivity.

Keywords

Organic photovoltaics Gold nanorods Optical antenna Light absorption 
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Notes

Acknowledgments

The research was supported by a grant from the US Dept. of Energy under Grant no. DE-FG02-07ER46428 and by the USC NanoCenter.

References

  1. 1.
    H. Hoppe and N. S. Sariciftci (2008). Adv. Polymer Sci. 214, 1–86.Google Scholar
  2. 2.
    R. A. J. Janssen, J. C. Hummelen, and N. S. Sariciftci (2005). MRS Bulletin 30, 33–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    A. J. Moule and K. Merholtz (2007). J. App. Phys. B. 86, 721–727.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    D. L. Carroll, J. Liu, M. A. G. Namboothiry, and K. Kim (2008). App. Phys. Lett 92, 076102.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    L. J. A. Koster, V. D. Mihailetch, and P. W. M. Blom (2006). App. Phys. Lett. 88, 093511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  6. 6.
    K. Kim, J. Liu, M. A. G. Namboothiry, and D. L. Carroll (2007). App. Phys. Lett. 90, 163511.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    K. Kim and D. Carroll (2005). Appl. Phys. Lett. 87, 203113.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  8. 8.
    P. Barahdwaj, B. Deutsch, and L. Novotny (2009). Adv. Optics Photonics 1, 438.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    C. J. Murphy, T. K. Sau, A. M. Gole, C. J. Orendorff, J. Gao, L. Gao, S. E. Hunyadi, and T. Li (2005). J. Phys. Chem. B 109, (29), 13857.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    L. Novotny (2007). Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 266802.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  11. 11.
    B. P. Rand, P. Reumans, and S. R. Forrest (2004). J. Appl. Phys. 96, 7519.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  12. 12.
    K. R. Catchpole and A. Polman (2008). Optics Express 16, 21793.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    A. J. Morpha, K. L. Rowlan, T. H. Reilly III, M. J. Romero, and J. van de Lagemaat (2008). App. Phys. Lett. 92, 013504.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  14. 14.
    S. S. Kim, S. I. Na, J. Jo, D. Y. Kim, and Y. C. Nah (2008). App. Phys. Lett. 93, 073307.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  15. 15.
    S. H. Lim, W. Mar, P. Matheu, D. Derkacs, and E. T. Yu (2007). J. Appl. Phys. 101, 104309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  16. 16.
    C. Hägglund, M. Zäch, G. Petersson, and B. Kasemo (2008). Appl. Phys. Lett. 92, 053110.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    T. K. Sau and C. J. Murphy (2004). Langmuir 20, 6414.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  18. 18.
    V. Shrotriya, G. Li, Y. Yao, T. Moriarty, K. Emery, and Y. Yang (2006). Adv. Func. Mater. 16, 2016.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  19. 19.
    J. D. Jackson, Classical Electrodynamics (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1974), p 411.Google Scholar
  20. 20.
    L. Novotny and B. Hecht, Nanophotonics (Springer Series in Optical Sciences, New York, 2006), p 266.Google Scholar
  21. 21.
    C. Hagglund and B. Kasemo (2009). Optics Express 17, 11944.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  22. 22.
    M. Schnell, A. Garcia-Etxarri, A. J. Huber, K. Crozier, J. Aizpurua, R. Hillenbrand (2009) Nature Photonics, p 46.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011

Authors and Affiliations

  • Eric Peterson
    • 1
  • Patrick N. Sisco
    • 2
    • 3
  • Catherine J. Murphy
    • 2
    • 3
  • Richard D. Adams
    • 2
  • David Carroll
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Physics and Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake ForestUniversity Winston-SalemWinston SalemUSA
  2. 2.Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of South CarolinaColumbiaUSA
  3. 3.Department of ChemistryUniversity of IllinoisUrbanaUSA

Personalised recommendations