Photovoltaic performance of organic solar cells based on DH6T/PCBM thin film active layers

Abstract Organic Solar Cells based on α, ω- dihexyl-sexithiophene (DH6T) and [6,6]-phenyl C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) were fabricated and characterized. The photovoltaic performance of three different architectural structures namely DH6T/PCBM (bilayer), PEDOT:PSS/DH6T/PCBM (bilayer) and PEDOT:PSS/DH6T:PCBM (1:1 bulk heterojunction) were investigated and discussed through the current and power density–voltage, ( J–V ) and ( P–V ) characteristics of the devices under 100 mW/cm 2 white light illumination in air. The results show higher performance for the bulk heterojunction devices with enhanced power conversion efficiency by 150% of that obtained in the PEDOT:PSS/DH6T/PCBM bilayer devices. This is ascribed to the red shift obtained in the absorption spectra and better donor/acceptor proximity of DH6T:PCBM bulk heterojunction films compared to those of the DH6T/PCBM bilayers.