Modification and performance enhancement of P3HT:PCBM based organic solar cells incorporated with phosphorus doped carbon quantum dots

[Display omitted] •P3HT:PCBM based organic solar cells were fabricated with phosphorous carbon quantum dots (P-CQDs) into active layer.•The addition of P-CQDs into P3HT:PCBM showed better crystallinity and bigger grain size.•The optical absorption and charge extraction improved with the incorporation of P-CQDs.•The incorporation of 1 vol% of P-CQDs into P3HT:PCBM achieved by 2.5% in power conversion efficiency. We demonstrate a strategy to improve the performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) by phosphorous doped CQDs (P-CQDs). The presence of P-CQDs P3HT:PCBM layer (1 vol% of P-CQDs) enhanced photon harvesting in the UV region and emitting visible light, the PCE was increased from 2.19% to 2.48% and champion device provided a FF of 55.34%. The incorporation of P-CQDs leads to effective photons harvesting ability and collection/transport of charge carriers. The optical absorption and crystallinity of photoactive layer improved with the incorporation of P-CQDs. The larger grain size distribution were obtained with P-CQDs additive helping to better charge extraction.