The photovoltaic effect and charge carrier mobility in layered compositions of bithiophene or related rotaxane copolymer with C70 fullerene derivative

Abstract

Organic photovoltaic cells with a bulk heterojunction have been manufactured in which the photoactive layer consists of a mixture of bithiophene copolymer or related rotaxane with a fullerene derivative (PC₇₀BM). The mobility of charge carriers in photoactive layers has been determined, the current–voltage characteristics of photovoltaic cells have been measured, and the energy level diagram of cell components has been constructed. It is established that the polyrotaxane component (macrocycle) insulates a part of thiophene fragments of the macromolecule, thus hindering the transport of carriers and leading to large energy losses for exciton dissociation, which results in a decreasing photovoltaic effect.