Integration of amyloid nanowires in organic solar cells

Amyloid nanowires were incorporated in organic photovoltaic devices in order to enhance the transport properties. Amyloid fibrils act as a template for donor-acceptor materials. The current-voltage characteristics under illumination and in the dark display a maximum for the fill factor and the space charge limit current, respectively, at an amyloid nanowire-donor-acceptor mass ratio of 0.014:1:1, associated to a better charge transport in the donor-acceptor domains. The absorption experiments display a redshift associated to a more planar polymer backbone with increasing concentration of amyloid fibrils. Amyloid nanowires present a significant effect on the donor-acceptor materials organization. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.