Spectral response tuning using an optical spacer in broad-band organic solar cells

The effect of a zinc oxide optical spacer layer in broad-band polymer-fullerene solar cells is presented. The complimentary absorption in the donor and acceptor components allows photocurrent generation through photoinduced electron and hole-transfer mechanisms. Simulations of the optical-field distribution reveal that an optical spacer can be used to tune the spectral response to favor one photocurrent generation pathway via enhanced absorption in either the acceptor or donor component. Experimental results confirm these simulations, and the spacer is shown to enhance overall photocurrent in devices with thin active layers ( 90 nm).