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We develop a partially solution-processed small molecule tandem organic photovoltaic cell using an organic/inorganic interlayer structure that provides efficient charge recombination while protecting underlying layers from degradation due to attack from solvents applied during the deposition of subsequent sub-cells. Each sub-cell consists of a functionalized squaraine (fSQ) blend donor that is cast from solution, followed by evaporation of other functional layers. The first fSQ layer is cast from chloroform, while the second is cast from a tetrahydrofuran, thereby minimizing dissolution of the relatively insoluble, underlying fullerene layer that acts to protect the first donor layer. Solvent vapor annealing increases the sub-cell performance while decreasing the damage caused by spin-coating of the second fSQ layer, both of which result from increased film crystallinity that reduces the rate of solvent penetration. The tandem cell has a power conversion efficiency of 6.2% ± 0.3% and an open circuit voltage nearly equal to the sum of the constituent sub-cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) differ from ideal inorganic solar cells due to their pronounced voltage dependence under reverse bias. This feature is commonly modeled in an ad hoc fashion by including a parallel junction resistance (Rp) that bypasses the heterojunction energy barrier between donor and acceptor. The existence of a finite Rp has variously been attributed to rough interfaces, pinhole defects, or to the electric field dependence of the dissociation of polaron pairs that are bound at the heterojunction. Here we show that the voltage dependence of the photocurrent can also arise from photoconductivity resulting from exciton generation followed by dissociation into free polarons within the bulk of the donor and acceptor layers. The presence of photoconductivity of the active layers does not result in an increase in power conversion efficiency, and places a constraint on the maximum fill factor that can be achieved in an OPV cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]