Organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells based on conducting polymer and SnO2 nanoparticles chemically modified with a fullerene derivative

Organic–inorganic hybrid solid solar cells were fabricated by using a conjugated polymer (MDMO-PPV) and SnO2 nanoparticles chemically modified with C60C(COOH)2. The cell performance was improved by the chemical modification, suggesting that the modification with photoelectrochemically active organic materials is useful for establishing good electronic junction at the organic–inorganic interface. The short-circuit current density JSC increased with increasing thickness of MDMO-PPV up to 40 nm, and then decreased gradually. This thickness dependence was explained by the fluorescence quenching of MDMO-PPV by Au electrode and the film resistance of MDMO-PPV.