Improvement of photo-current density of P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction organic solar cell using periodic nanostructures

Abstract

In this paper, we utilize periodic nanostructures to enhance the short circuit current density of bulk heterojunction organic solar cell. We exploit the technique of broadening the absorption spectrum efficiently using periodic nanostructures in photoactive layer to improve the short circuit current density of our solar cell. In this regard, we simulate a conventional 200 nm thick P3HT:PCBM solar cell with four different nanostructures (pillar, rectangle, pyramid, sphere) placed in the active medium and calculate the absorbed power and generation rate initially. Then, we calculate the short circuit current density with different nanostructures incorporated into it. We find that maximum short circuit current density (21.70 mA/cm2) can be achieved when pillars are incorporated and 20.21% improvement is observed at optimized condition. Finally, we extend our study by replacing P3HT:PCBM with PBDTTT-C:PCBM active layer. In the latter case, a shortened enhancement of 9.37% is observed.