Item Details

abstract

The enhancement of charge collection in organic photovoltaics by using nanocomposite materials is investigated. Two such approaches are detailed in this thesis. Chapter 1 addresses the addition of metal nanorods to the PEDOT layer of an organic solar cell in an attempt to focus incident light for better absorption by the polymer layer. Composites designed to facilitate charge transfer from nanoparticles to the polymer/fullerene system are the focus of the second chapter. Chapter 3 details a refinement to the research presented in chapter 2, adding fullerenes to the mix and creating ternary systems and providing an analytical framework for evaluating these systems. The material choices are expanded in chapter 4; we investigate a new, lower band gap conjugated polymer (PCPDTBT) as well as core-shell nanoparticles and how they interact in the system. Results are reported and further avenues of research are suggested.

subject

conjugated polymers

nanocomposites

nanoparticles

organic solar cells

polymer solar cells

contributor

Peterson, Eric David (author)

Carroll, David L (committee chair)

Anderson, Paul (committee member)

date

2012-09-05T08:35:18Z (accessioned)

2012-09-05T08:35:18Z (available)

2012 (issued)

degree

Physics (discipline)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/37435 (uri)

language

en (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

title

Nanocomposites for Enhancing Current in Organic Solar Cells

type

Thesis