Efficiency improvement of polymer solar cells by addition of TiO₂ nanoparticles into the active layers

In this study, the polymer solar cells based on P3HT/[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester 1:1 weight ratio blending were manufactured. TiO₂ nanoparticles were added into the P3HT/[6,6]- phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blending in order to improve the cell performance. The morphologies of polymer solar cells were improved after adding TiO₂ nanoparticles. The effects of thermal annealing on the solar cell as with and without TiO₂ nanoparticles addition were studied, respectively. A solar cell with high short circuit current density of 8.44 mA cm-2 was obtained by optimizing the thermal annealing condition and the amount of TiO₂ nanoparticles. The efficiency of the photovoltaic device was improved after post-annealing with TiO₂ nanoparticles doping in the active layer of the polymer solar cell.