Efficient large-area polymer solar cells on flexible substrates

Abstract

Polymer solar cells based on poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene]:[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (1:3wt%) were fabricated using flexible 5×5cm2 polyester foils. These cells show a white-light power conversion efficiency of 3% comparable to smaller cells on glass published by other authors. Ten cells were arranged on one substrate with an active area of 25 and 175mm2 demonstrating a remarkably high reproducibility. It was found that the open-circuit voltage does not depend on the device area. An increase of the cell area caused a slightly lower short-circuit current, lower fill factor, and lower white-light power conversion efficiency.