Photovoltaic devices based on photo induced charge transfer in polythiophene:CN-PPV blends

Abstract

We have investigated the photovoltaic properties of polymer devices based on a blend of two polymers, (poly(3-(2'-methoxy-5'-octylphenyl) thiophene) (POMeOPT) and poly(2,5,2',5'-tetrahexyloxy-7,8'-dicyano-di-p-phenylenevinylene) (CN-PPV), where photo induced charge transfer takes place at the interfaces formed by the interpenetrating network of the donor and the acceptor. The polymer blend films resulting from the spin coating were phase separated and the photo response of the devices depended on the morphology of the segregation. We have studied different blend ratios by photoluminescence quenching, scanning force microscopy and photovoltaic measurements. External quantum efficiencies of 4.5% at 500nm were achieved for the less segregated polymer blend.