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Photoconduction action spectra of regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiopene):TiO2 diodes

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Abstract

The development of polymer-based photovoltaic devices brings the promise of low-cost and lightweight solar energy conversion systems. This technology requires new materials and device architectures with enhanced efficiency and lifetime, which depends on the understanding of charge-transport mechanisms. Organic films combined with electronegative nanoparticles may form systems with efficient dissociation of the photogenerated excitons, thus increasing the number of carriers to be collected by the electrodes. In this paper we investigate the steady-state photoconductive action spectra of devices formed by a bilayer of regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RRP3HT) and TiO2 sandwiched between ITO and aluminum electrodes (ITO/TiO2:RRP3HT/Al). Photocurrents were measured for distinct bias voltages with illumination from either side of the device. Heterojunction structures were prepared by spin coating a RRP3HT film on an already deposited TiO2 layer on ITO. Symbatic and antibatic curves were obtained and a model for photocurrent action spectra was able to fit the symbatic responses. The quantum yield increased with the electric field, indicating that exciton dissociation is a field-assisted process as in an Onsager mechanism. Furthermore, the quantum yield was significantly higher when illumination was carried out through the ITO electrode onto which the TiO2 layer was deposited, as the highly electronegative TiO2 nanoparticles were efficient in exciton dissociation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by FAPESP, CNPq, and INEO (Brazil).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, CP 369, 13560-970, São Carlos, Brazil

    C. E. Z. deSouza, A. P. Ibaldo, D. J. Coutinho, O. N. Oliveira Jr. & R. M. Faria

  2. Divisão de Metrologia de Materiais (DIMAT), LADOR, Inmetro, Av. Nossa Senhora das Graças, 50, Xerém, Duque de Caxias, RJ CEP, 25250-020, Brazil

    R. Valaski

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  1. C. E. Z. deSouza
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  2. A. P. Ibaldo
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  3. D. J. Coutinho
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  4. R. Valaski
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  5. O. N. Oliveira Jr.
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  6. R. M. Faria
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Correspondence to O. N. Oliveira Jr..

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deSouza, C.E.Z., Ibaldo, A.P., Coutinho, D.J. et al. Photoconduction action spectra of regio-regular poly(3-hexylthiopene):TiO2 diodes. Appl. Phys. A 106, 983–988 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-011-6725-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-011-6725-1

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