Improvement of Power Conversion Efficiency of P3HT/PCBM Polymer Solar Cell Systems by Optimization of the Process Steps

Abstract

In this work, different steps involved in the fabrication of polymer solar cells were optimized using P3HT/PCBM heterojunction. Steps included spinning speed for coating of the PEDOT:PSS layer, use of filter for the PEDOT:PSS layer, spinning speed for coating of the active layer, sequence of annealing of the active layer either before or after electrode deposition, and modification of the cooling mechanism (either by cooling rapidly or slowly after heating of the active layer). Investigation of these steps led to an improvement of the power-conversion efficiency (PCE) of the polymer solar cells, especially the last step involving the change of cooling mechanism, which improved PCE by 25%.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Optimization
• P3HT/PCBM
• polymer solar cells
• spin coating
• UV-vis spectrum

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges his former colleague Dr. Eugen Maier and other colleagues for their help and support. The author also acknowledges the financial support from Higher Education Commission Pakistan, and administrative support from OeAD-GmbH (Austria).