Semiconducting polymer-buckminsterfullerene heterojunctions: Diodes, photodiodes, and photovoltaic cells

TLDR

The study reports the fabrication and characterization of rectifying heterojunction diodes made from a soluble poly(phenylene‑vinylene) derivative and C60. Illumination induces a strong photoresponse due to electron transfer from the polymer donor to the C60 acceptor across the heterojunction. Rectification ratios exceed 10⁴, and the photodiode and photovoltaic responses demonstrate that photoinduced electron transfer across the heterojunction offers potential for photodetector and solar cell applications.

Abstract

The characterization of rectifying heterojunctions (diodes) fabricated from a semiconducting polymer, a soluble derivative of poly(phenylene-vinylene), and buckminsterfullerene, C60, are reported. Rectification ratios in the current versus voltage characteristics exceed 104. When illuminated, the devices exhibit a large photoresponse as a result of photoinduced electron transfer across the heterojunction interface from the semiconducting polymer (donor) onto C60 (acceptor). The photodiode and photovoltaic responses are characterized. Photoinduced electron transfer across the donor-accepted rectifying heterojunction offers potential for photodetector and for solar cell applications.