Environment-friendly energy from all-carbon solar cells based on fullerene-C60

An efficient single layer organic solar cell based on plain buckminsterfulerence (C60) has been fabricated. By inserting a very thin N,N′-bis(naphthalene-1-yl)-N,N′-bis(phenyl)benzidine layer between the indium tin oxide and single C60 active layer, a short-circuit current of 1.98 mA/cm2 and an open-circuit voltage of 0.52 V are obtained under 100 mW/cm2 AM1.5G simulated illumination. The highest power conversion efficiency of 0.414% based on plain C60 is thus demonstrated, which is the first step to realize an environment-friendly energy source.