Exciton dynamics in alternating polyfluorene/fullerene blends

Exciton dynamics in alternating copolymer/fullerene solar cell blends have been investigated using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The acceptor concentrations have been varied over a wide range. Experimental data, kinetic modeling and simulations, all indicate that the efficiency of exciton conversion to charges is 100% even at acceptor concentrations as low as 20 wt%. The reported dependence of solar cell efficiency on fullerene concentration may thus arise from other factors. However, there exists an acceptor concentration threshold (5 wt%) below which a substantial fraction of the excitations remain unquenched. The results, we believe are very relevant to optimization of performance efficiency by clever manipulation of morphology. We have also observed exciton-exciton energy transfer in these blends at low acceptor concentrations.