Triplet Exciton Generation in Bulk-Heterojunction Solar Cells Based on Endohedral Fullerenes

摘要

Organic bulk-heterojunctions (BHJ) and solar cells containing the trimetallic nitride endohedral fullerene l-[3-(2-ethyl)hexoxy carbonyl]propyl-l-phenyl-Lu3N@C_80 (Lu_3N@C_80-PCBEH) show an open circuit voltage (Voc) 0.3 V higher than similar devices with [6,6]-phenyl-C[6l]-butyric acid methyl ester (PC_61BM). To fully exploit the potential of this acceptor molecule with respect to the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells, the short circuit current (Jsc) should be improved to become competitive with the state of the art solar cells. Here, we address factors influencing the Jsc in blends containing the high voltaee absorber Lu_3N@C_80-PCBEH in view of both photogeneration but also transport and extraction of charge carriers. We apply optical, charge carrier extraction, morphology, and spin-sensitive techniques. In blends containing Lu_3N@C_80-PCBEH, we found 2 times weaker photoluminescence quenching, remainders of interchain exdtons, and, most remarkably, triplet exdtons formed on the polymer chain, which were absent in the reference P3HT:PC_61BM blends. We show that electron back transfer to the triplet state along with the lower exciton dissociation yield due to intramolecular charge transfer in Lu_3N@C_80-PCBEH are responsible for the reduced photocurrent.