Synthesis of MDMO-PPV capped PbS quantum dots and their application to solar cells

Poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) capped PbS quantum dots about 3-6 nm in diameter were synthesized with a novel method. Unlike the synthesis of oleic acid capped PbS quantum dots, the reactions were carried out in solution at room temperature, with the presence of a capping ligand species, MDMO-PPV. The quantum dots were used to fabricate bulk heterojunction solar cells with an indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulphonate (PEDOT: PSS)/MDMO-PPV: PbS/Al structure. Current density-voltage characterization of the devices showed that after the addition of the MDMO-PPV capped PbS quantum dots to MDMO-PPV film, the performance was dramatically improved compared with pristine MDMO-PPV solar cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

National Natural Science Foundation of China 60736034 60576036National Basic Research Program of China 2006CB202604 2006CB604904 National High Technology Research and Development Program of China 2006AA03Z408 This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Contract Nos. 60736034, 60576036) and the National Basic Research Program of China with Contract Nos. 2006CB202604 and 2006CB604904, the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China with Contract Nos. 2006AA03Z408.