CuInS sub(2-Poly(3-(ethyl-4-butanoate)thiophene) nanocomposite solar cells: Preparation by an in situ formation route, performance and stability issues)

In this contribution we present an in situ method for the preparation of CuInS sub(2-poly(3-(ethyl-4-butanoate)thiophene) (P3EBT) nanocomposite layers and their application in nanocomposite solar cells. A precursor solution containing copper and indium salts, thiourea and the conjugated polymer was prepared in pyridine, which was coated onto glass/ITO substrates followed by a heating step at 180 [deg]C. The heating step induced the formation of the CuInS) sub(2) nanoparticles homogeneously dispersed in the conjugated polymer matrix. The formation of the nanocomposite was investigated in situ by X-ray scattering techniques and TEM methods showing that nano-scaled CuInS sub(2 was formed. By addition of small amounts of zinc salt to the precursor solution, zinc containing CuInS) sub(2) (ZCIS) was formed. ZCIS-P3EBT active layers exhibited higher V sub(OC than CuInS) sub(2)-P3EBT layers and showed efficiencies of about 0.4%. Additionally the stability of the solar cells was tested over a time scale of 172 h.