Effect of CdSe quantum dots on the performance of hybrid solar cells based on ZnO nanorod arrays

This paper reports the fabrication and interface modification of hybrid inverted solar cells based on ZnO nanorod arrays and poly (3-hexylthiophene). CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are grafted to the ZnO nanorod array successfully by bifunctional molecule mercaptopropionic acid to enhance the device performance. The power conversion efficiency of the device is increased by 109% from 0.11% to 0.23% under simulated 1 sun AM 1.5 solar illumination at 100 mW/cm2 after the modification. The grafting of CdSe QDs effectively enhanced the excition generation and dissociation on the organic/inorganic interface. This work may provide a general method for increasing the efficiency of organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells by interface modification.