Model for the J-V characteristics of degraded polymer solar cells

An equivalent circuit model was developed for polymer solar cells (PSCs), which explains correctly their behavior under different test conditions. We examine here the validity of that model for degraded PSCs. For that purpose, investigations were carried out on solar cells based on the interpenetrating bulk heterojunctions of poly(3-hehylthiophene) and phenyl[6,6] C-61 butyric acid methyl ester. Current density-voltage (J-V) characteristics were measured in dark and under illumination at different time intervals. The characteristics of fresh solar cells are explained well by the developed model, with exponential dependence of photocurrent on applied voltage. However, the degraded characteristics showed space charge limited conduction and the characteristics could be explained well by the same model but with different voltage dependence of photocurrent. (C) 2013 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4794356]