Polymer based hybrid photovoltaics (PVs) are an emerging solar technology that could be processed using traditional printing/coating techniques from appropriate solutions. The perfect hybrid PV device has an ordered bulk heterojunction (OBHJ) in which organic donor and inorganic acceptor generate vertically aligned periodic patterns. Such a vertically aligned heterojunction has been the focus of recent interest, but its realization, particularly in a manner compatible with solution-based fabrication, remains challenging. In this work, we design novel hybrid organic-inorganic core-shell nanocomposites consisting of an inorganic semiconductor core and organic conjugated polymer shell with precise control of interface. Confined on the nanowire surface, polymer chains develop ordered crystalline structures. Hybrid nanocomposites serve as PV elements. In concentrated dispersions, hybrid nanocomposites form liquid crystalline phases in which vertically aligned heterojunctions are fabricated via screen printing. Wet formulations and rheological behaviors are addressed to optimize the printing.

Wet printing of polymer-based hybrid core-shell nanocomposites toward vertically aligned heterojunctions

247th National Meeting (2014)

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