Optical and Photovoltaic Characterization of an Inverted P3HT:PCBM/ZnO Hybrid Solar Cell

Hybrid solar cells combining organic and inorganic materials offer potential for low cost, stable photovoltaics, but their optical and charge transport properties need further study. To characterize the optical properties and photovoltaic performance of an inverted P3HT:PCBM/ZnO hybrid solar cell with a laminated silver electrode. The device was fabricated using spray pyrolysis for ZnO, spin-coating for P3HT:PCBM and PEDOT:PSS, and lamination for the silver electrode. Optical properties were assessed via UV-Vis spectroscopy, and photovoltaic performance was evaluated under AM 1.5G illumination. P3HT:PCBM showed strong visible absorption (400–650 nm), while ZnO exhibited UV absorption and visible transparency. The device achieved Isc of 8.54 × 10⁻⁴ A, Voc of 0.578 V, FF of 0.68, and Pmax of 3.35 × 10⁻⁴ W. The inverted architecture demonstrates efficient light harvesting and charge extraction, with potential for cost-effective solar cells.