Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/1364
Title: Charge recombination in polymer/fullerene photovoltaic devices
Authors: Choulis, Stelios A. 
Nelson, Jenny K. 
Durrant, James Robert 
metadata.dc.contributor.other: Χούλης, Στέλιος Α.
Major Field of Science: Engineering and Technology
Field Category: ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Keywords: Photovoltaic cells;Computer simulation;Fullerenes;Heterojunctions;Solar cells
Issue Date: 28-Jun-2004
Source: Thin solid films, 2004, vol. 451–452, pp. 508–514
Volume: 451–452
Start page: 508
End page: 514
Journal: Thin Solid Films 
Abstract: Solar cells based on polymer–fullerene blends are amongst the most efficient organic photovoltaic devices with power conversion efficiencies now exceeding 3%. The large interfacial area in such dispersed heterojunctions, which is essential for charge separation, also enables charge recombination. Understanding recombination is, therefore, of key importance in the optimisation of device performance. Recent measurements of charge recombination in blends of poly(2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1-4-phenylene vinylene), (MDMO-PPV) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C61 (PCBM) by transient optical spectroscopy reveal that recombination dynamics possess two phases, one fast, intensity dependent phase and a slow, intensity independent phase which dominates at low light intensities. The recombination is thermally activated, and the kinetics are sensitive to background illumination but insensitive to the blend composition. Simple models of bimolecular recombination cannot explain these features. In this article, we present a model for the mechanism of charge recombination, based on multiple trapping of polarons by a distribution of traps in the polymer phase. The model explains the observed recombination kinetics and their dependence on light intensity, temperature and fullerene concentration. We show that under solar illumination conditions, charge recombination is limited by the activation of positive polarons out of deep traps, yet carrier collection competes successfully with recombination in thin films. The model is evaluated by comparison with data on cells and independent measurements of charge carrier mobility, and the implications for cell performance are discussed
URI: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14279/1364
ISSN: 00406090
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2003.11.064
Rights: © Elsevier
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States
Type: Article
Affiliation: Imperial College London 
Affiliation : Imperial College London 
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed
Appears in Collections:Άρθρα/Articles

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