High-Performance Semitransparent Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Photovoltaics with Ag Interfacial Layer

Abstract

Semitransparent bulk-heterojunction organic photovoltaics with power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.63 +/- 0.39% was achieved by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) active layer and Ag/Ca/Ag transparent cathode. Insertion of a thin Ag interfacial layer (1 nm) between the P3HT/PCBM active layer and Ca/Ag transparent cathode dramatically improved the PCE from 0.83 +/- 0.33 to 1.63 +/- 0.39% as well as other photovoltaic properties such as fill factor, short-circuit current, and series resistance. In this experiment, it is considered that the improved device performance is possibly due to improved contact property by the Ag interfacial layer at the active/cathode interface. (C) 2012 The Japan Society of Applied Physics