Synthesis of hybrid solar cells using CdS nanowire array grown on conductive glass substrates

High-density CdS nanowire (NW) arrays were successfully grown on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)-coated glass substrates by vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) mechanism at a remarkably reduced temperature of similar to 450 degrees C. Bi catalyst layer and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) played a major role in the low-temperature synthesis of high-quality US NW arrays. US NWs were defect free single crystalline Wurtzite crystals and they were 50-100 nm and 2-5 mu m in diameter and length, respectively. US NWs were combined with poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV), a conjugated polymer to form organic-inorganic hybrid structures. The UV-visible light absorption and emission behavior of MEH-PPV/CdS hybrids was investigated and their potential to be used as photovoltaic cells was demonstrated. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.This work was supported by the Components and Materials Technology Development Program funded by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy, Republic of Korea (MKE, Korea) in 2008