Optical properties of thin merocyanine dye layers for photovoltaic applications

The potentiality was studied of our newly synthesized push-pull type merocyanine dye, labeled A1, for use as an electron donating component in solution-processed bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells. For the purpose, a soluble n-type fullerene, (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which is currently and in the ear future without an alternative, was chosen as an acceptor. The optical constants (n and k) of thin films obtained by spin coating from solutions in chlorobenzene of A1 and of an A1/PCBM blend were determined by spectrophotometric measurements. Further, an optical simulation of a standard BHJ cell with an active layer of an A1dye/PCMB blend was performed using a transfer-matrix formalism. Thus, the optimum thickness of the active layer was calculated to be about 80 nm, which provides overlapping of the total absorption with the solar spectrum in the broad range 400 nm - 800 nm. Finally, the maximum current density, J(sc), was determined to be 13 mA cm(-2) assuming that the internal quantum efficiency, IQE, is unity. Comparing the calculated J(sc) with data on some advanced small-molecule BHJ devices, the prospects for practical applications of the new merocyanine dye are discussed.