CW-Photocurrent measurements of conjugated polymers and fullerenes blended into a conventional polymer matrix

In this work we present efficiency data of solar cells based on mixtures from soluble alkoxy PPV, a highly soluble fullerene derivative (PCBM) and three different conventional, non conjugated polymers, polystyrene (PS), polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) and polyvinylbenzenechlorid (PVBC). We studied the I/V characteristics of devices with various amounts of conventional polymer. Energy conversion efficiency ηe and carrier collection efficiencies ηc are calculated for these three composite devices and compared with the data for a pure conjugated polymer / fullerene device. We find that addition of up to 10% of conventional polymer to the electroactive composite is possible without lowering the efficiency of the device.