Fabrication of large area photovoltaic devices containing various blends of polymer and fullerene derivatives by using the doctor blade technique

Large area photovoltaic devices based on interpenetrating networks of donor and acceptor molecules have been fabricated by using the doctor blade technique. Devices containing blends of poly (para phenylenevinylene, PPV) derivatives as donor materials with various C60 derivatives as acceptor are compared. It is shown that among the various combinations of materials short circuit currents are maximal for blends of PPV and a highly soluble fullerene derivative (PCBM monoadduct), whereas the open circuit potentials stay almost the same for all devices. For the best combination of donor-acceptor materials it has been shown that upscaling to 10 x 15 cm is possible by using the doctor blade technique without loosing efficiency.