Significant enhancement of the power conversion efficiency for organic photovoltaic cells due to a P3HT pillar layer containing ZnSe quantum dots.

High-efficiency organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells utilizing a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) pillar layer containing ZnSe quantum dots (QDs) were fabricated by using a mixed solution method. Scanning electron microscopy and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images showed that the ZnSe QDs were dispersed in the P3HT layer. The power conversion efficiency of the OPV cells with a P3HT pillar layer containing ZnSe QDs was as much as 100% higher than that of the OPV cells with a planar layer due to an enhancement of the photon-harvesting ability of the congregated P3HT particles containing ZnSe QDs and to an increase of the interfacial region for efficient charge transport.