Electrophotonic enhancement of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells through photonic crystal photoactive layer

Abstract

We present one- ( 1D) and two-dimensional ( 2D) periodic nanostructured designs for organic photovoltaics where a photonic crystal is formed between blended poly-3-hexylthiophene/ [ 6,6] -phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester ( P3HT:PCBM) and nanocrystalline zinc oxide. Absorption enhancements over the full absorption range of P3HT:PCBM of 20% ( one polarization) and 14% are shown for the 1D and 2D structures, respectively. These improvements result in part from band edge excitation of quasiguided modes. The geometries are also shown to create excitons 26% ( 1D) and 11% ( 2D) closer to P3HT:PCBM exit interfaces indicating further photovoltaic improvement.