Electrospun polymer-fiber solar cell

Abstract

A novel electrospun polymer-fiber solar cell was synthesized by electrospinning a 1: 2.5 weight% ratio mixture of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2- ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) resulting in bulk heterojunctions. Electrospinning is introduced as a technique that may increase polymer solar cell efficiency, and a list of advantages of the technique applied to solar cells is discussed. The device achieved a power conversion efficiency of η = 3.08 × 10 - 7 %. The absorption and photoluminescence of MEH-PPV nanofibers are compared to thin films of the same material. Electrospun nanofibers are discussed as a favorable structure for application in polymer solar cells. © 2013 Shinobu Nagata et al.