The role of triplet excitons in enhancing polymer solar cell efficiency: a photo-induced absorption study

Inclusion of heavy metal atoms in a polymer backbone allows transitions between the singlet and triplet manifolds. Interfacial dissociation of triplet excitons constitutes a viable mechanism for enhancing photovoltaic (PV) efficiencies in polymer heterojunction-based solar cells. The PV efficiency from polymer solar cells utilizing a ladder-type poly (para-phenylene) polymer (PhLPPP) with trace quantity of Pd atoms and a fullerene derivative (PCBM) is much higher than its counterpart (MeLPPP) with no Pd atom. Evidence is presented for the formation of a weak ground-state charge-transfer complex (CTC) in the blended films of the polymer and PCBM, using photo-induced absorption (PIA) spectroscopy. The CTC state in MeLPPP:PCBM has a singlet character to it, resulting in a radiative recombination. In contrast, the CTC states in PhLPPP:PCBM are more localized with a triplet character. An absorption peak at 1.65 eV is observed in PhLPPP:PCBM blend in the PIA, which may be converted to weakly-bound polaron-pairs, contributing to the enhancement of PV efficiency.