Influence of molar mass ratio, annealing temperature and cathode buffer layer on power conversion efficiency of P3HT:PC71BM based organic bulk heterojunction solar cell

In bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells, the molar mass ratio of donor-acceptor polymers, the annealing temperature (T-an) and the cathode buffer layer plays very consequential role in improving the power conversion efficiency (PCE) by tuning the film morphology and enhancing the charge carrier dynamics. A comprehensive understanding of each of these factors is essential in order to optimize the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs). Albeit there are several fundamental reports regarding these factors, an altogether meticulous correlation of these physical processes with experimental evidence of the photo active layer are required. In this work, we systematically analyzed the influence of different molar mass ratio, the annealing temperature (T-an) and the cathode buffer layer of rrP3HT:PC71BM based BHJ solar cells and their corresponding photovoltaic performances were correlated carefully with their thin film growth structure and energy level diagram. The device having 1:0.8 molar mass ratio of rrP3HT:PC71BM and T-an = 150 degrees C annealing temperature with Bathocuproine (BCP) as the cathode buffer layer having ITO/PEDOT:PSS/rrP3HT:PC71BM (molar mass ratio = 1:0.8; (T-an = 150 degrees C)/BCP/Al) configuration showed the best device performance with PCE, eta = 4.79%, Jsc = 14.21 mA/cm(2), V-oc = 0.58 V and FF = 57.8%. This drastic variation in PCE of the device having BCP/Al as the cathode contact compared to the other device configurations is due to the coalesced effects of better hole-blocking capacity of BCP along with Al and better phase separation of the active blend layer at 150 degrees C annealing temperature. These results explicate the cumulate role of all these physical parameters and their combined contribution to the PCE amendment and overall device performance with rrP3HT:PC71BM based organic BHJ solar cell. (c) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.