Status: Planned Paper
Section: Nanotechnology
Type of Paper: Full Research Paper
Title: “Ordered bulk-heterojunction solar cells composed of a semi-conducting polymer infiltrated into an array of metal oxide nanostructure.”
Authors: Thelese R.B. FOONG¹ and Xiao HU²*
Affiliations:
1. Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 3 Research Link, 117602 Republic of Singapore.
2. ^* School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Block N4.1 Nanyang Avenue, 639798 Republic of Singapore.

Abstract:
Organic solar cells are currently the subject of intense research interests driven by the promise of a renewable energy source manufactured via lower-cost and lower-energy-consuming techniques (e.g. high throughput roll-to-roll processing, spin/dip coating, printing and vacuum sublimation) than present silicon technology.  Although the highest performing class of devices (i.e. the bulk heterojunction (BHJ) composed of blends of thiophene-based polymers and soluble derivatives of C₆₀ fullerene) has been prominent enough to attain commercialization (by Heliatek, Konarka Technologies, Inc., Solarmer Energy, Inc., Plextronics, LumoFlex, etc.), there is still plenty of room to appreciate and harness the maximum efficiencies and benefits that organic materials can provide.  The route towards higher performing solar cells is multifaceted involving the synthesis of new materials, band gap engineering, morphology control, evolution of new device structures and development of encapsulation technologies, to list a few.  The pursuit of a device architecture ideal to addressing a number of issues pertinent to device operation constitutes the main focus of this review article.
Keywords: solar cells, polymer, BHJs, heterojunction, metal oxide nanotubes.