Two dimensional Langevin recombination in regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

In this work, it is shown that recombination in regioregular poly (3-hexylthiophene): [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (RRP3HT:PCBM) bulk-heterojunction solar cells is caused by the two dimensional (2D) Langevin recombination in the lamellar structures of RRP3HT, which are formed after annealing process. Due to 2D Langevin process, bimolecular recombination coefficient is reduced in comparison with three dimensional Langevin case, and bimolecular recombination coefficient depends on the density of charge carriers n(1/2). Data obtained from the different experimental techniques (charge extraction with linearly increasing voltage, integral time of flight, double injection current transients and transient absorption spectroscopy) confirms 2D Langevin recombination in RR3PHT. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3141513]