Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells from Poly(3-butylthiophene)/Fullerene Blends: In Situ Self-Assembly of Nanowires, Morphology, Charge Transport, and Photovoltaic Properties

Abstract

Bulk heterojunction solar cells based on blends of regioregular poly(3-butylthiophene) (P3BT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC61BM) were created by in situ self-assembly of P3BT nanowires and the morphology and photovoltaic properties were investigated as a function of the blend composition. Transmission electron microscopy imaging of the blends revealed an interconnected network of P3BT nanowires of 11−15 nm width and 5−10 μm length and an amorphous continuous PC61BM phase. The photocurrent densit…