Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell based on semiconducting nanomaterials

A solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell based on semiconducting nanomaterials is introduced. The device consists of a thin film of ZnO nanoparticles that is loaded with light-absorbing dyes. A p-type semiconductor film is then deposited on top of the dye molecules as a hole transport material. Both pristine poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and P3HT doped with XD-grade single-walled carbon nanotube (XDSWNT) are used as the p-type semiconducting films. By having a weight ratio of XDSWNT and P3HT equaled to 0.1:1, short-circuit current was quadrupled from 0.12 to 0.48 mA/cm(2) and solar cell efficiency was tripled from 0.023% to 0.07%, compared to devices with pure P3HT as a hole transport material.