Preparation and characterization of a photovoltaic solar cell with poly(3-hexylthiophene) and fullerene (C60) as active materials.

Solar photovoltaics present a reliable alternative to global energy problems. In recent years, researchers have turned to organic solar cells. These types of solar cells are low pollutant, inexpensive, flexible etc. We developed an organic solar cell with polymer as active materials, poly(3-hexylthiophene) PAT6 and fullerene (C
60
). PAT6 is a N type material and therefore an electron donor and C
60
is a P type material and therefore an electron acceptor. They are also highly absorbent in ultraviolet thus promoting the process of generating peer electron-hole in the cell. PAT6 is deposited by the sol-gel deposition technique on C
60
developed by thermal evaporation under vacuum. Different thicknesses of the PAT6 layer were studied to assess their impacts on the semiconducting properties of the cell. Tin oxide and indium (ITO) electrodes were used. The photovoltaic properties of the ITO/C
60
/PAT6/ITO cell were improved by the introduction of buffers of molybdenum oxide (MoO
3
) and zinc oxide (ZnO) as electrons and holes transport layers to the respective electrodes. The absorptions evaluated using the Cary 5000 spectrophotometer show that our cells are absorbing in much of the visible spectrum and in ultraviolet.