Experimental Realization of TiO2 Nanosponge/Spin-coated P3HT Heterojunction Solar Cells

Production and characterization of multilayered polymer solar cells consisting of P3HT thin films deposited on titanium dioxide nanosponges are reported. The photovoltaic response is remarkable, considering the simplicity of the thin film production method employed here. The nanostructured TiO2 anodic films were grown in buffered aqueous phosphoric acid solutions under potentiostatic regime at room temperature and then characterized using scanning electron microscopy. The P3HT films were prepared by spin coating technique and the samples were annealed at 180°C. Conversion efficiencies around 0.4% were obtained, with open circuit voltages and short circuit current densities as high as 560 mV and 2.7 mA/cm2, respectively.