Effects of the graphene content on the conversion efficiency of P3HT: Graphene based organic solar cells

We investigate the effects of the insertion of graphene in the matrix of regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (RR-P3HT) on the conversion efficiency of ITO/P3HT:Graphene/Au solar cells. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements show that progressive addition of graphene reduces the degree of order of P3HT lamellae along the hexyl-side direction (a-axis). The insertion of low graphene content in the P3HT matrix reduces the RMS roughness of the P3HT thin film, and improves the optical absorption properties of the device in the visible range. However for high doping level we observe the formation of graphene aggregates which in turn reduces the optical absorption properties of the device. The observed effects arising after addition of graphene to P3HT, and their relationship with the conversion efficiency of the devices are discussed in this work. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.