Embedding plasmonic gold nanoparticles in a ZnO layer enhanced the performance of inverted organic solar cells based on an indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene-alt-5,5′-di(thiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bithiazole-based push–pull polymer

Recently, plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted considerable attention as good candidates for enhancing the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) owing to their localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). In this study, the effect of embedding colloidal gold nanoparticles (cAu NPs) in the ZnO electron transport layer (ETL) on the PCEs of wide band gap polymer-based inverted OSCs was investigated. The active layer was composed of a bulk heterojunction of conjugated polymer based on indacenodithieno[3,2-b]thiophene and 5,5′-di(thiophen-2-yl)-2,2′-bithiazole PIDTT-DTBTz as a donor and [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC(71)BM) as an acceptor. The PCE of the reference device was improved by 22% when 10 wt% cAu NPs were embedded in the ZnO ETL. The short circuit current density (J(SC)) and fill factor (FF) were the main photovoltaic parameters contributing to the PCE enhancement. An improved absorption in the active layer due to the LSPR of cAu NPs as well as efficient exciton dissociation and charge collection were found to be the reasons for the enhanced J(SC) while the increase in FF was mainly due to the suppressed traps and improved conductivity of the ZnO layer by the NPs.