Efficient charge photogeneration by the dissociation of PC 70BM excitons in polymer/fullerene solar cells

Stoichko D. Dimitrov, Christian B. Nielsen, Safa Shoaee, Pabitra Shakya Tuladhar, Junping Du, Iain McCulloch, James R. Durrant

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

The role of PC 70BM excitons in driving charge photogeneration in low bandgap polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells has been studied. Both transient absorption spectroscopy of charge generation yields in blend films as a function of excitation energies and photocurrent quantum efficiency spectra of the corresponding devices indicate that charge generation in this system results primarily from direct optical excitation of PC 70BM. Blend composition studies of photocurrent density and photoluminescence quenching indicate that the efficiency of photocurrent generation is primarily determined by the limited efficiency of PC 70BM exciton diffusion to the polymer due to the formation of PC 70BM domains (≥5 nm). This limitation becomes more severe as the PC 70BM content is increased above 50%. Despite this limitation and despite the poor charge photogeneration from polymer excitons, organic solar cells fabricated using this photoactive blend layer yielded device photocurrents of 7.1 mA/cm 2, maximal EQEs of 41%, and a device efficiency of 3.1%.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-144
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry Letters
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 5 2012
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Materials Science
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Efficient charge photogeneration by the dissociation of PC 70BM excitons in polymer/fullerene solar cells'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this