Insertion of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) layer between the indium tin oxide (ITO) and the photoactive polymer by simple spin-coating method is found to improve the photovoltaic effects of solar cells significantly. Cross sectional SEM image provides direct evidence that GNPs layer acts as a pure buffer layer in our devices. The improvement of the device performance is due to good transmission, high work function, good conductivity, and ultra-smooth surface roughness of GNPs layer. GNPs layer can act as a promising buffer layer to facilitate hole collection from polymer donor towards ITO anode. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.