Integrated organic photovoltaic modules with a scalable voltage output

Abstract

Efficient organic photovoltaic modules and cells have been fabricated based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a soluble C70 derivative, [6,6]-phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM-70). Power conversion efficiency of P3HT/PCBM-70 cells is estimated at 4.1% for the AM1.5 G condition from the spectra of external quantum efficiency. Integrated photovoltaic modules, in which N - individual P3HT/PCBM-70 cells (N=1-4) are connected in series, exhibit a short-circuit current ISC of 1.4±0.1 mA and an open-circuit voltage VOC of N×0.621 V with a maximum VOC of 2.48 V for N=4 under simulated solar illumination (AM1.5 G, 85 mW cm2). © 2006 American Institute of Physics.