Abstract: An antenna layer is provided separate from an active layer in a solar cell device based on organic materials, enabling improved energy conversion in the solar cell devices by increasing the efficiency and spectral cross-section for the capture of incident light. The antenna layer may be anthracene or an anthracene derivative, for example. The antenna layer is operable to harvest light and transfer captured excitation energy to the active layer of the solar cell device using an energy transfer mechanism, wherein the charge separation and/or the formation of free carriers takes place. The antenna layer also limits the ultraviolet exposure of the active layer thus extending the operating life of the solar cell. The active layer and the antenna layer of a solar cell device may be independently optimized such that there is an increased spectral range and/or cross-section of light absorption and thus a higher photovoltaic efficiency.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of surface passivation of colloidal nanocrystalline materials using a ligand exchange process in which quantum nanoparticles of pre-selected size and shape has polymer multidentate ligands bound at the surface of the nanocrystals for stabilizing quantum size-dependent properties of nanocrystals and providing colloidal stability of the nanoparticles in solvents.