Optical modelling of a layered photovoltaic device with a polyfluorene derivative/fullerene as the active layer

Here we report on optical modelling of organic photovoltaic devices having a layered geometry, with polyfluorene-copolymer as the active material and C60 as the acceptor. Thin film theory in a matrix formalism enables analysis of the impact of reflection and interference on the optical electric field. The model allows us to predict an optimal C60 thickness where concern has been taken for light being both polychromatic and distributed according to solar irradiation. Fundamental for light–matter interaction is the dielectric function. We have extracted it for two variants of a new polyfluorene copolymer, PFDTBT, from UV via visible to the nearest infrared, using spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). n is found to be relatively high with a max-value above 2.1. The process of spin coating induces anisotropy in the polymer film.