High performance ambient processed inverted polymer solar cells through interfacial modification with a fullerene self-assembled monolayer

The performance of inverted bulk-heterojunction solar cells with zinc oxide nanoparticles as the electron selective contact is compared to those modified with a fullerene self-assembled monolayer (C₆₀-SAM). The devices modified with a C₆₀-SAM show very significant improvement in conversion efficiencies compared to unmodified devices leading to efficiencies as high as 4.9%. This is due to enhanced electronic coupling of the inorganic/organic interface from the C₆₀-SAM leading to improved fill factor and photocurrent. Furthermore, devices fabricated in an inert environment were compared to those fabricated in ambient showing comparable device performance. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.