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Measuring the current-voltage characteristic of organic bulk heterojunction solar devices sometimes reveals an S-shaped deformation. We qualitatively produce this behavior by a numerical device simulation assuming a reduced surface recombination. Furthermore we show how to experimentally create these double diodes by applying an oxygen plasma etch on the indium-tin-oxide anode. Restricted charg...

The photovoltaic conversion efficiency for near-infrared (NIR) sunlight is improved successfully by dye sensitization of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells, in which the active layer was prepared by a ternary blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene), a fullerene derivative (1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)propyl-1-phenyl-[6,6]-methanofullerene), and an NIR dye, silicon phthalocyanine bis(trihexylsilyl oxide)....

With particular focus on bulk heterojunction solar cells incorporating ZnO nanorods, we study how different annealing environments (air or Zn environment) and temperatures impact on the photoluminescence response. Our work gives new insight into the complex defect landscape in ZnO, and it also shows how the different defect types can be manipulated. We have determined the emission wavelengths f...

This review summarizes the optical and electrical models of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) polymer solar cells (PSCs) and numerically simulates and analyzes the performance of the PSCs. A complete simulation of a conventional BHJ device based on the polymer P3HT is presented and results are compared with the experimental data. Key factors affecting the device performance, including the photo absorpt...

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells were fabricated based on blended films of a porphyrin derivative 5,10,15,20-Tetraphenyl-21H,23H-porphine zinc (ZnTPP) and a fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as the active layer. The ZnTTP:PCBM BHJ solar cells were fabricated by spin-casting of the blended layer. The weight ratios of ZnTPP and PCBM were varied from 1:1 t...

Recently, much effort has been devoted to improve the efficiency of organic photovoltaic solar cells based on blends of donors and acceptors molecules in bulk heterojunction architecture. One of the major losses in organic photovoltaic devices has been recombination of polaron pairs at the donor-acceptor domain interfaces. Here, we present a novel method to suppress polaron pair recombination a...

The various device structures used in organic polymer solar cells are reviewed. The operating principles behind these devices are explained in order to provide the reasoning behind the different structures. The incorporation of nanostructures into both bilayer and bulk heterojunction devices to improve exciton separation, charge transport, and light absorption is discussed. Novel ideas such as ...

Organic photovoltaic cell (OPV) has emerged as a new competitor to inorganic material-based solar cells, due to its potential application in large area, printable, and flexible solar panels. In particular, OPV cells with bulk heterojunction architecture (BHJ), in which the photoactive layer consists of a bicontinuous blend of an electron donor and an electron acceptor, has allowed power convers...