Flexible dye-sensitized solar cell based on PCBM/P3HT heterojunction

Using blend heterojunction consisting of C-60 derivatives [6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) as charge carrier transferring medium to replace I-3 (-)/I- redox electrolyte, a novel flexible dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is fabricated. The characterization of infrared spectra and ultraviolet-visible spectra shows that the PCBM/P3HT heterojunction has not only the absorption in ultraviolet light for PCBM, but also the absorption in visible and near infrared light for P3HT, which widens the photoelectric response range for DSSC. The influence of PCBM/P3HT mass ratio on the performance of the solar cell is discussed. Under 100 mW cm(-2) (AM 1.5) simulated solar irradiation, the flexible solar cell achieves a light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of 1.43%, open circuit voltage of 0.87 V, short circuit current density of 3.0 mA cm(-2) and fill factor of 0.54.