Implementing nanometer-scale confinement in organic semiconductor bulk heterojunction solar cells

We discuss fabrication processes for implementing nanometer scale confinement in an organic bulk heterojunction device architecture, including formation and integration of the confining self-assembled template. Such confinement has a beneficial influence on the electrical properties of blended poly(3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester organic solar cell active layers. Crystallization of the blend upon annealing is inhibited by the confining template, which we understand through analysis of x-ray scattering measurements.