The influence of the hole transport layer on device stability in polymer:fullerene bulk‐heterojunction solar cells is reported. Three different hole transport layers varying in composition, dispersion solvent, electrical conductivity, and work function were used in these studies. Two water‐based hole transport layers, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) and polyaniline:poly(styrene sulfonate), and one isopropyl alcohol‐based polyaniline:poly(styrene sulfonate) transport layer were investigated. Solar cells with the different hole transport layers were fabricated and degraded under illumination. Current–voltage, capacitance–voltage, and capacitance–frequency data were collected at light intensities of 16, 30, 48, 80, and 100 mW cm−2 over a period of 7 h. Device performance and stability were compared between nonencapsulated and encapsulated samples to gain understanding about degradation effects related to oxygen and water as well as degradation mechanisms related to the intrinsic instability of the solar cell materials and interfaces. It is demonstrated that the properties of the hole transport layer can have a significant impact on the stability of organic solar cells.

In this study we propose an equivalent circuit model to describe Sshaped current−voltage (I−V) characteristics in inverted solar cells with a TiO x interlayer between the cathode and the poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester active layer. Initially the solar cells demonstrate S-shaped I−V characteristics resulting in a low fill factor (FF). Upon light soaking with UV radiation, the resistance of the TiO x interlayer decreases, the S-shape disappears, and the FF increases. Impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate the influence of the resistance of the TiO x layer on the shape of the I−V characteristics. We show that the equivalent circuit model can describe the voltage dependence of the data before and after light soaking in a range from −1 to +1.5 V well, demonstrating the robustness of the model. The equivalent circuit elements can be attributed to the distinct layers in the solar cell, therefore giving insight into the origin of the S-shape behavior in this solar cell architecture.

Blends of organic electron and hole conductive materials are widely used for ambipolar charge carrier transport and photovoltaic cells. An obvious choice for donor-acceptor blends are organic semiconducting materials in their hydrogenated and fluorinated form, since they combine potentially suitable electronic properties with structural compatibility of the two constituents. This study focuses on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of blends using hydrogenated copper-phthalocyanine (H 16 CuPc) in combination with its perfluorinated version (F 16 CuPc). Using X-ray scattering, scanning force microscopy and optical absorption measurements we show that mixed crystalline films are obtained by co-evaporation of the two materials. Electrical transport measurements reveal a profound reduction of the current for bipolar charge injection in mixed films. We discuss the formation of self-trapped charge-transfer excitons as possible explanation for this unexpected behaviour, which impedes the usability of this system in photovoltaic cells.

A variety of measurement techniques including photothermal deflection spectroscopy (PDS), auger electron spectroscopy (AES), (sub–bandgap) external quantum efficiency (EQE), and impedance spectroscopy are applied to poly[N‐900‐hepta‐decanyl‐2,7‐carbazole‐alt‐5,5‐(40,70‐di‐2‐thienyl‐20,10,30‐benzothiadiazole (PCDTBT)/[6,6]‐phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PC71BM) films and devices to probe the stability under thermal annealing. Upon annealing, solar cell performance is drastically decreased for temperatures higher than 140 °C. Detailed investigation indicate changes in polymer:fullerene interactions resulting in the formation of a polymer wetting layer upon annealing at temperatures higher than 140 °C. Upon device completion this wetting layer is located close to the metal electrode and therefore leads to an increase in recombination and a decrease in charge carrier extraction, providing an explanation for the reduced fill factor (FF) and power conversion efficiency (PCE).