Efficient light harvesting in a photovoltaic diode composed of a semiconductor conjugated copolymer blend

Abstract
We explore charge generation and recombination kinetics quantitatively in a model polymeric semiconductor ternary system. Resonance energy transfer from a polyfluorene copolymer backbone to perylene-substituted side chains selectively excites the dye. In a blend with an alkoxy-substituted poly-p-phenylenevinylene, photoinduced charge transfer is observed. A comparison of picosecond time scale and quasisteady-state charge generation efficiencies allows measurement of the fraction of charges that survive rapid geminate recombination. This simple procedure allows the unraveling of the role played by recombination kinetics in the device.