Optimizing hybrid photovoltaics through annealing and ligand choice

Photovoltaic devices made from blended cadmium selenide nanocrystals with various capping ligands and poly-3-hexylthiophene were prepared. The effects of capping ligands and annealing conditions were investigated. We find that capping ligands determine morphology/phase separation. Our findings suggest that annealing at temperatures between 105 and 122 °C yield optimized devices. We also report CdSe/P3HT blended devices with an efficiency of 1.8% under illumination by AM1.5D.