Comprehensive device modeling of plasmon-enhanced and optical field-dependent photocurrent generation in organic bulk heterojunctions

We present a comprehensive numerical model to describe the coupled optical and electrical behavior of plasmon-enhanced polymer/fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells. We incorporate a bound electron/hole pair generation rate that is dependent on both the 2-dimensional position within the P3HT:PCBM active layer, and the solar spectral irradiance. By considering the absorption and plasmonic properties of two different popular device architectures, and applying the Poisson, current continuity, and drift/diffusion equations, we are able to predict quantum efficiency, short-circuit current density, and desired carrier mobility ratios for devices possessing strongly non-uniform optical fields commonly produced by nanostructures.