Parallel-like bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells

Here we demonstrate a conceptually new approach, the parallel-like bulk heterojunction (PBHJ), which maintains the simple device configuration and low-cost processing of single-junction BHJ cells while inheriting the major benefit of incorporating multiple polymers in tandem cells. In this PBHJ, free charge carriers travel through their corresponding donor-polymer-linked channels and fullerene-enriched domain to the electrodes, equivalent to a parallel-like connection. The short-circuit current (J(sc)) of the PBHJ solar cell is nearly identical to the sum of those of the individual "subcells", while the open-circuit voltage (V(oc)) is between those of the "subcells". Preliminary optimization of the PBHJ devices gives improvements of up to 40% in J(sc) and 30% in overall efficiency (η) in comparison with single-junction BHJ devices.