Mixed C60/C70 based fullerene acceptors in polymer bulk-heterojunction solar cells.

Different mixtures of identically substituted C60 and C70 based fullerens have been used as acceptors in three polymer:fullerene systems that strongly express various performance limiting aspects of bulk heterojunction solar cells. Results are correlated with, and discussed in terms of e.g. morphology, charge separation, and charge transport. In these systems, there appears to be no relevant differences in either mobility or energy level positions between the identically substituted C60 and C70 based fullerenes tested. Examples of how fullerene mixtures influence the nano-morphology of the active layer are given. An upper limit to the open circuit voltage that can be obtained with fullerenes is also suggested.