Improving organic solar cell efficiency by increasing light absorption and charge carrier mobility in the device active layer

Abstract

Organic solar cells can be a potential low cost alternative to inorganic solar cells in many applications provided their efficiencies and lifetimes can be improved. In this talk, a couple of ideas for improving organic solar cells' power conversion efficiencies are explored. The first idea deals with increasing light absorption in organic solar cell active layers by appropriately incorporating metallic nano-particles within the devices. Effects of the size, shape and location of the nanoparticles on the light absorption will be discussed. The second idea deals with charge carrier mobility improvement in the active layer by application of electric field during the formation of that layer. The potential for improvement in device efficiency for P3HT:PCBM (poly 3-hexylthiophene: [6,6] phenyl C60 butyric acid methyl ester) based bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells by electric field application during the appropriate device fabrication process, will be discussed.