Effect of trapping and temperature on the performance of P3HT: PCBM organic solar cells

The effects of trapping and temperature have been investigated in P3HT: PCBM bulk organic solar cells. We used the simulator tool SILVACO to model the current-voltage and the external quantum efficiency (EQE). We showed that good agreement with data measurements of solar cell parameters. The charge carrier mobility for electrons and holes has been varied taking into account the dependence of mobility with trapping concentration and temperature. We found that the highest efficiency is achieved with density of trapping that did not exceed 10−15-10−16 cm2/V.s. The recombination process described by Sah-Shockley statistics caused by higher trapping concentrations limit the performance of the solar cell, whereas low concentrations trapping increase charge carriers mobility than increase Langevin Bimolecular recombination leading to a reduction of the open-circuit voltage and the efficiency. A maximum efficiency values found in range 220-250 K du to the increase of short circuit current and The decrease of open circuit voltage with the increase in temperature.