Otieno, FrancisShumbula, Ndivhuwo P.Airo, MildredMbuso, MlamboMoloto, NosiphoErasmus, Rudolph M.Quandt, AlexanderWamwangi, Daniel2017-09-112017-09-112017-08-04Otieno, F., Shumbula, N.P., Airo, M., Mbuso, M., Moloto, N., Erasmus, R.M., Quandt, A. & Wamwangi, D. 2017, 'Improved efficiency of organic solar cells using Au NPs incorporated into PEDOT:PSS buffer layer', AIP Advances, vol. 7, art no. 085302, pp. 1-10.2158-322610.1063/1.4995803http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62224Au based plasmonic phenomenon inside the hole transport layer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) of an organic solar cell based on blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6:6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBM) is investigated. The concentration of the Au nanoparticles synthesized by wet chemical reduction is one of the key factors to strong light trapping when the spherical gold nanoparticles are blended into the PEDOT:PSS solution. Studies of the influence of the concentration of nanoparticles distribution in the PEDOT:PSS were carried out using UV–Vis spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. Electrical characteristics of the pristine device and of device with metallic nanostructures were analyzed from J –V characteristics to observe the plasmonic effects on the performance in the P3HT:PCBM organic solar cells. The origin of the photocurrent enhancements with varying Au nanoparticles concentrations on PEDOT:PSS are discussed.en© 2017 Author(s). All article content, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.Atomic force microscopyBlendingButyric acidConducting polymersGoldNanoparticlesNanostructuresOrganic solar cells (OSCs)PlasmonsSynthesis (chemical)Ultraviolet visible spectroscopySolar cellsUV-vis spectroscopyPoly-3-hexylthiophenePoly-3 ,4-ethylenedioxythiophenePoly(styrene sulfonate)Photocurrent enhancementMetallic nanostructureHole transport layersElectrical characteristicArticle