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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
We report on a novel use of nanorod arrays for organic based solar cell devices. A metal foil with copper nanorods attached to the surface was developed by electrodepositing copper from a copper sulfate solution into an anodic alumina oxide (AAO) template that had been coated with a metal on one side. The AAO membrane was dissolved in NaOH leaving behind an aligned array of copper nanorods. This nanorod array was evaluated to explore the possibility of increasing the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. Nanorod array characteristics were investigated by focus ion beam, scanning electron microscopy, and x-ray diffraction spectroscopy. A solar cell device was made by applying a polymer layer of poly(2-methoxy-5-(3', 7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1, 4-phenylene-vinylene) (MDMO-PPV) mixed with 6, 6 phentl-C61-butyl acid-methylester (PCBM) onto the copper nanorod array and sandwiching it with a film of poly(3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) applied onto a indium tin oxide coated glass substrate.