By introducing a thin ZnO layer as an optical spacer, we have demonstrated that inserting this layer between an active layer and a reflective electrode results in a re-distribution of the optical electric field inside bulk heterojunction solar cells. A theoretical analysis by optical modeling showed that the thin ZnO layer could shift the position of the maximum of the electric field into the a...

Amide functionalized anthradithiophenes (ADTs) play active acceptor roles in polymer bulk-heterojunction solar cells. The first separation of ADT isomers is reported, and the regiochemistry of the ADT has significant impact on crystal packing and solar cell performance. Cell efficiency up to 0.80%, due in large part to high open-circuit voltage (V(OC) > 1.0 V), is achieved in bulk-heterojunctio...

Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on small molecules are often fabricated by the co-deposition of donor and accepter materials on substrates placed horizontally. An intimate blend of donor and acceptor molecules is the common product in as-prepared samples. Using metal phthalocyanine as the donor and fullerene as the acceptor, we tilt the substrate to deposit the active layer. Both ...

Despite numerous organic semiconducting materials synthesized for organic photovoltaics in the past decade, fullerenes are widely used as electron acceptors in highly efficient bulk-heterojunction solar cells. None of the non-fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells have achieved efficiencies as high as fullerene-based solar cells. Design principles for fullerene-free acceptors remain unclear ...

Polymer aggregation correlated transition from Schottky-junction to bulk heterojunction organic solar cells" (2014).