Piezotronic effect on the output voltage of P3HT/ZnO micro/nanowire heterojunction solar cells

Nano Lett. 2011 Nov 9;11(11):4812-7. doi: 10.1021/nl202648p. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Abstract

We report the first observation of piezotronic effect on the output voltage of a flexible heterojunction solar cell. The solar cell was fabricated by contacting poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with one end of a ZnO micro/nanowire to form a p-n heterojunction on a flexible polystyrene (PS) substrate. The open-circuit voltage V(oc) of the solar cell was characterized by tuning the strain-induced polarization charges at the interface between ZnO and P3HT. The experimental data were understood based on the modification of the band structure at the p-n junction by the piezopotential, which is referred as a result of the piezotronic effect. This study not only provides an in-depth understanding about the effect but also is useful for maximizing the output of a solar cell using wurtzite structured materials.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electric Power Supplies*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Micro-Electrical-Mechanical Systems / instrumentation*
  • Microelectrodes*
  • Nanostructures / chemistry*
  • Nanostructures / ultrastructure
  • Nanotechnology / instrumentation*
  • Organoselenium Compounds / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Solar Energy*
  • Zinc Oxide / chemistry*

Substances

  • Organoselenium Compounds
  • poly(3-hexyl)selenophene
  • Zinc Oxide