Improved silicon surface passivation by hybrid composites formed by PEDOT:PSS with anatase TiO_2 nanoparticles

Abstract

In this work, hybrid composites formed by PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene):-polystyrene sulfonate) and anatase TiO_2 nanoparticles synthesized by hydrolysis were spin-coated on Si substrates in order to evaluate their potential implementation in Si-hybrid solar cells, based on their passivation behaviour. X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence (PL), Raman spectroscopy, quasi-steady state photoconductance (QSS-PC) based on PL imaging, and Hall effect measurements were carried out for the structural, optical and electrical characterization. Enhanced carrier lifetime values of tau similar to 0.5 ms were obtained by adding a controlled amount of TiO_2 nanoparticles (0.5% wt.) to the PEDOT:PSS matrix.