Open AccessImproving organic solar cell efficiency using solution processed poly (3‐hexylthiophene) buffer layer
Author(s) -
Ghosekar Ishan C.,
Patil Ganesh C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
micro and nano letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.25
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 1750-0443
DOI - 10.1049/mnl.2018.5178
Subject(s) - buffer (optical fiber) , materials science , energy conversion efficiency , equivalent series resistance , layer (electronics) , optoelectronics , absorbance , organic solar cell , solar cell , quantum efficiency , active layer , open circuit voltage , polymer , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , voltage , electrical engineering , chromatography , thin film transistor , engineering
In this work, it has been shown that inserting buffered poly 3‐hexylthiophene layer between hole transport layer and blended polymer: fullerene active layer of the organic solar cell (OSC) improves the power conversion efficiency by 34% over the conventional OSC. The buffer layer also increases short‐circuit current density from 4.97 ± 0.2 mA/cm 2 (without buffer layer) to 6.12 ± 0.3 mA/cm 2 (with buffer layer). These improvements are mainly due to increased absorption in the buffered polymer layer. The buffer layer insertion leads to better charge carrier collection and lesser hole recombination at the hole transport interface, which increases shunt resistance and reduces the series resistance of the device. In addition, the insertion of the buffer layer also shows significant improvement in the absorbance spectrum and external quantum efficiency of the device.