Sub-bandgap absorption in polymer-fullerene solar cells studied by temperature-dependent external quantum efficiency and absorption spectroscopy

We study the sub-bandgap (SBG) absorption in solar cells made of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and [6,6]-phenylC61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester by photothermal deflection absorption spectroscopy and measurement of temperature-dependent external-quantum-efficiency (EQE) spectra. Several models for SBG absorption are critically reviewed in view of the EQE results. The latter suggest polaron-related transitions as origin of the Gaussian SBG peak near 1.6 eV. Intermolecular charge transfer (CT) excitations as an explanation cannot completely be ruled out. However, the assumption of CT excitons with large binding energies is difficult to reconcile with the rapid loss of weight of the Gaussian SBG-peak seen in EQE above room temperature.