Plasmonic electrodes for bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics: a review

Christopher E. Petoukhoff; Zeqing Shen; Manika Jain; AiMei Chang; Deirdre M. O’Carroll

doi:10.1117/1.JPE.5.057002

5 February 2015 Plasmonic electrodes for bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics: a review

Christopher E. Petoukhoff, Zeqing Shen, Manika Jain, AiMei Chang, Deirdre M. O’Carroll

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Journal of Photonics for Energy, Vol. 5, Issue 1, 057002 (February 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.5.057002

Abstract

Here, we review recent progress on the integration of plasmonic electrodes into bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices. Plasmonic electrodes, consisting of thin films of metallic nanostructures, can exhibit a number of optical, electrical, and morphological effects that can be exploited to improve performance parameters of ultrathin photovoltaic active layers. We review the various types of plasmonic electrodes that have been incorporated into organic photovoltaics such as nanohole, nanowire, and nanoparticle arrays and grating electrodes and their impact on various device performance parameters. The use of plasmonic back electrodes can impact device performance in a number of ways because the mechanisms of performance improvements are often a complex combination of optical, electrical, and structural effects. Inverted bulk heterojunction device architectures have been shown to benefit from the multifunctionality of plasmonic back electrodes as they can minimize space-charge effects and reduce hole carrier collection lengths in addition to providing improved light localization in the active layer. The use of semi-transparent plasmonic electrodes can also be beneficial for organic photovoltaics as they can exhibit a variety of optical properties such as light scattering, light localization, extraordinary transmission of light, and absorption-induced transparency, in addition to providing an alternative to metal oxide–based transparent electrodes.

CC BY: © The Authors. Published by SPIE under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported License. Distribution or reproduction of this work in whole or in part requires full attribution of the original publication, including its DOI.

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Christopher E. Petoukhoff, Zeqing Shen, Manika Jain, AiMei Chang, and Deirdre M. O’Carroll "Plasmonic electrodes for bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics: a review," Journal of Photonics for Energy 5(1), 057002 (5 February 2015). https://doi.org/10.1117/1.JPE.5.057002

Published: 5 February 2015

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