SOLID STATE P-N HETEROJUNCTION COMPRISING METAL NANOPARTICLES HAVING A SURFACE PLASMON MODE

摘要

The invention provides a solid-state p-n heterojunction comprising an organic p-type material in contact with an n-type material wherein said heterojunction is sensitised by at least one sensitizing agent wherein said sensitizing agent comprises coated nanoparticles of at least one metal, and wherein the coated metal nanoparticles have at least one surface plasmon mode in the visible to infra-red regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Optionally more than one sensitizing agent is employed, where the 2nd sensitizing agent comprises at least one molecular, metal complex or polymeric sensitizing agent. Also provided are optoelectronic devices such as solar cells or photo-sensors comprising such a p-n heterojunction, and methods for the manufacture of such a heterojunction or device.