Optimization of inverted tandem organic solar cells

Inverted tandem organic solar cells, consisting of two bulk heterojunction sub-cells with identical poly(3-hexylthiophene)(P3HT) and 1-(3-methoxycarbonyl)-propyl-1-phenyl-(6,6)C-61 (PCBM) active layer and a MoO3/Ag/Al/Ca intermediate layer, have been presented and optimized. Indium tin oxide (ITO) modified by Ca acts as a cathode for electron collection and Ag is used as the anode for hole collection for the tandem device. A proper thickness of Ca (3 nm) forms a continuous layer, working as a cathode for the top sub-cell. MoO3 as the anode buffer layer prevents exciton quenching and charge loss at the anode side, which could result in increase in interfacial resistance. The variance of sub-cell thickness adjusts the optical field distribution in the entire device, facilitating light absorption and good current matching in both sub-cells. The optimal inverted tandem device achieves a maximum power conversion efficiency of 2.89% with a short-circuit current density of 4.19 mA/cm(2), an open-circuit voltage of 1.17 V. and a fill factor of 59.0% under simulated 100 mW/cm(2) (AM 1.5G) solar irradiation. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.