Investigation of PCBM Concentration on the Performance of Small Organic Solar Cell

Abstract

We have fabricated bulk heterojunction organic solar cells using coumarin 6 (C6) as a small organic dye, for light harvesting and electron donating, with fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), acting as an electron acceptor, by spin-coating technique of the blend solutions. We have studied effect of PCBM concentration on photocurrent and performance parameters of the solar cells. We found that the optical absorption of the dye increased with increasing its concentration in the active layer blends. The higher concentrations of PCBM in active layer enhanced the photocurrent of the solar cells, as a result of improving charge carrier separation and electron transport in solar cell active layer. The improved charge carrier separation between C6, as a donor, and PCBM, as an acceptor, was indicated through the formation of bulk heterojunction by blending C6 with PCBM. The formation of C6:PCBM bulk heterojunction blend was confirmed through the symbatic behavior of the corresponding solar cell and, also, through the homogeneity and smoothing in the atomic force microscopy images of the C6:PCBM blend films. For the same reasons, the performance parameters of the C6:PCBM solar cell improved by modification of the PCBM concentration in the solar cell active layer.

Effect of solvent additives and P3HT on PDTSTTz/PCBM-based bulk heterojunction solar cells

“…The fill factor (FF) also increased from 0.32 (IMe) to 0.47 (IBu). 18 The most common electron transporting interlayer (LiF) used in many reported BHJ solar cells was not used in our cells. The efficiency of the reference cell is much lower than the expected value.…”

Thermal Transitions in P3HT:PC60BM Films Based on Electrical Resistance Measurements

“…The correct determination of these physical properties plays a decisive role in improving their parameters, which, in turn, determines the thermal durability and performance of the final devices. In organic optoelectronics, the most widely studied and used organic materials are semiconducting poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ] and its fullerene derivative, [ 6 , 6 ]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ]. Films constructed with blends of both compounds [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ] are widely used as active layers in OPV devices [ 23 , 24 , 25 ].…”

Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication

“…Third generation solar cells, instead of expensive semiconductors, usually employ solution-processed materials such as polymers, nanoparticles and additives which make them easier to manufacture using cheap methods and processes [3]. In the field of polymer-based photovoltaic cells, blend of poly(3hexylthiophene) (P3HT), a polymer, and [6,6]-phenyl C61butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), a fullerene derivate based donor-acceptor copolymer, is one of the most-studied active materials organic solar cell materials for photon-electron conversion [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Organic polymers such as P3HT:PCBM blends have wider band gaps than natural semiconductors [16][17]. This paper studied the effects of composition ratios of P3HT:PC 61 BM on photo-absorption optical properties under various thicknesses in ambient conditions for photoactive layer device.…”