Hybrid solar cells based on P3HT and Si-MWCNT nanocomposite

A nanocomposite material (Si-MWCNT) with a core/sheath heterostructure consisting of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) covalently bonded onto a multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) is used as a new material for solar cells. The photovoltaic response of a poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/Si-MWCNT hybrid film is studied by I-V measurements under simulated one-sun AM 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm-2). In comparison with simple P3HT/Si-NPs and P3HT/MWCNT devices, the power conversion efficiency of the (P3HT)/Si-MWCNT nano-hybrid device is enhanced by 3 and 20 times, respectively. Photo-physical and energy diagram investigations suggest that the improved device performance is attributed to the combination of efficient charge generation by the P3HT/Si-NPs bulk heterojunction and efficient charge collection as a result of MWCNT template directed carrier transport.