Multipositional Silica-Coated Silver Nanoparticles for High-Performance Polymer Solar Cells

We demonstrate high-performance polymer solar cells using the plasmonic effect of multipositional silica-coated silver nanoparticles. The location of the nanoparticles is critical for increasing light absorption and scattering via enhanced electric field distribution. The device incorporating nanoparticles between the hole transport layer and the active layer achieves a power conversion efficiency of 8.92% with an external quantum efficiency of 81.5%. These device efficiencies are the highest values reported to date for plasmonic polymer solar cells using metal nanoparticles.WCU (World Class University) program through the Korea Science and Engineering FoundationMinistry of Education, Science and Technology National Research Foundation of KoreaInternational Cooperation of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP)Korea government Ministry of Knowledge Econom