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Using upconversion nanoparticles to improve photovoltaic properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene)–TiO2 heterojunction solar cell

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Abstract

We develop an approach to improve the photovoltaic properties of polymer solar cells, by incorporating a function of light upconversion into the solar cell. We synthesize hydrophilic rhombic lanthanide-doped LiYF4 at the average length of 100 nm and breadth of 40 nm. The synthesized nanoparticles which are capable of converting long-wavelength photons into shorter ones are introduced into the poly(3-hexylthiophene)–TiO2 heterojunction solar cell. The results of the upconversion fluorescence spectra demonstrate the energy transfer from the upconversion nanoparticles to poly(3-hexylthiophene). It is revealed by using monochromatic illumination that the upconversion nanoparticles enable the devices to utilize the long-wavelength photons which are beyond the absorption of poly(3-hexylthiophene), and thus, the photovoltaic performance is enhanced.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by National Nature Science Foundation of China (NSFC) under Grant No. 20574011 and Shanghai Nanotechnology Promotion Center (SNPC) under Grant No. 1052nm01700.

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  1. State Key Laboratory of Molecular Engineering of Polymer, Department of Macromolecular Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Xun Ma & Xiuyuan Ni

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  1. Xun Ma
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  2. Xiuyuan Ni
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Correspondence to Xiuyuan Ni.

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Ma, X., Ni, X. Using upconversion nanoparticles to improve photovoltaic properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene)–TiO2 heterojunction solar cell. J Nanopart Res 15, 1547 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-013-1547-z

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