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Theoretical Investigations of Polymer Based Solar Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 March 2011

Robert S. Echols  and
Chris E. France
Robert S. Echols
Affiliation:
California Polytechnic State University, Physics Department, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
Chris E. France
Affiliation:
California Polytechnic State University, Physics Department, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407
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Abstract

We investigate the behavior of a polymer blend (M3EH-PPV:CN-ether-PPV) bulk heterojunction solar cell using a numeric model that self-consistently solves Poisson's equation and the charge continuity equation while incorporating electric field dependent mobilities. We obtain good quantitative agreement with present experimental data for J-V curves and photocurrent action spectra. To reproduce experimental photocurrent action spectra, our model predicts 36% exciton dissociation efficiencies in the bulk of the polymer. We also study the limiting conditions of polymer solar cell development by simulating an ideal solar cell using an AM1.5 global spectrum and assuming all absorbed photons hitting a M3EH-PPV:CN-ether-PPV polymer blend (band gap ∼2.0 eV) based solar cell at normal incidence contribute to current. If such a solar cell has 100 nm length, open circuit voltage=0.6 V and 50% fill factor, then the maximum theoretical power conversion efficiency is ηp=5.6%. A similar analysis for a M3EH-PPV:PCBM bulk heterojunction cell yields, ηp=3.5%. These results further highlight the need to develop smaller band gap materials and help explain why the best polymer based solar cells have power conversion efficiencies that remain stuck at about 3%. Our model is used to investigate the important increase in power conversion efficiencies we can expect as lower band gap polymers become available.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 822: Symposium S – Nanostructured Materials in Alternative Energy Devices , 2004 , S7.7
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

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References

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