Regensburg 2013 – scientific programme

Parts | Days | Selection | Search | Updates | Downloads | Help

O: Fachverband Oberflächenphysik

O 61: Organic Electronics and Photovoltaics I (jointly with CPP, DS, and HL)

O 61.9: Talk

Thursday, March 14, 2013, 12:00–12:15, H34

A new multiscale modeling method for simulating the loss processes in polymer solar cell nanodevices — •Anton Pershin, Sergii Donets, and Stephan A. Baeurle — Institute of Physical and Theoretical Chemistry, University of Regensburg, D-93040 Regensburg, Germany

The photoelectric power conversion efficiency of polymer solar cells is till now, compared to conventional inorganic solar cells, relatively low with maximum values ranging from 7% to 8%. This essentially relates to the existence of exciton and charge carrier loss phenomena, significantly reducing the performance of polymer solar cells. Here, we introduce a new computer simulation technique [1], which permits to explore the causes for the occurrence of such phenomena at the nanoscale and to design new photovoltaic materials with optimized opto-electronic properties. Using our approach, we find that the disjunction of continuous percolation paths leads to the creation of dead ends, resulting in charge carrier losses through charge recombination. Moreover, we observe that defects are characterized by a low exciton dissociation efficiency due to a high charge accumulation, counteracting the charge generation process. Finally, by analyzing the photovoltaic behavior of the nanostructures under different circuit conditions, we demonstrate that charge injection at the electrodes determines the impact of the defects on the solar cell performance. [1] A. Pershin, S. Donets, S.A. Baeurle, J. Chem. Phys. 136, 194102 (2012).