Channel II photocurrent quantification in narrow optical gap polymer-fullerene solar cells with complimentary acceptor absorption

Abstract

Most charge generation studies on organic solar cells focus on the conventional mode of photocurrent generation derived from light absorption in the electron donor component (so called channel I). In contrast, relatively little attention has been paid to the alternate generation pathway: light absorption in the electron acceptor followed by photo-induced hole transfer (channel II). By using the narrow optical gap polymer poly(3,6-dithieno[3,2-b]thiophen-2-yl)-2,5-bis(2-octyldodecyl)-pyrrolo-[3,4-c]pyrrole-1,4-dione-5′,5″-diyl-alt-4,8-bis(dodecyloxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl with two complimentary fullerene absorbers; phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, and phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (70-PCBM), we have been able to quantify the photocurrent generated each of the mechanisms and find a significant fraction (>30%), which is derived in particular from 70-PCBM light absorption.