Effect of ZnCdSe/ZnSe Core/Shell Quantum Dots on the Efficiency of Organic Photovoltaic Cells

Abstract

We report on the effect of ZnCdSe/ZnSe core/shell quantum dots (QDs) on the efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. The QDs were deposited on the back side of indium tin oxide (ITO)/glass substrates by spin coating with poly(methyl methacrylate). The short circuit current and power conversion efficiency of the OPV cells on the ITO/glass/QDs+PMMA substrate (8.5 mA/cm(2) and 3.2%) are lower than those of the control device on the ITO/glass substrate (9.0 mA/cm(2) and 3.4%), due to the low transmittance of the QDs+PMMA and discordance between the emission peak of the QDs and absorption peak of the active area in the OPV cells. It is anticipated that the usage of QDs whose emission peak is coincident with the absorption peak of the active area would improve the performance of the OPV cells. (C) 2011 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/1.3589246] All rights reserved.