Incremental optimization in donor polymers for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells exhibiting high performance

The power conversion efficiency of an organic solar cell has now exceeded the 10% mark, which is a significant improvement in the last decade. This has been made possible due to the development of low‐band‐gap polymers with tunable electron affinity, ionization potential, solubility, and miscibility with the fullerene acceptor, and the improved understanding of the factors affecting the critical device parameters such as the VOC and the JSC. This review examines the latest strategies, results, and trends that have evolved in the design of solar cells with better efficiency and durability. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2012 Significant improvement in the organic solar cell device efficiency has been achieved due to the development of low band‐gap polymers with tunable electron affinity, ionization potential, solubility, and miscibility with the fullerene acceptor, and improved understanding of the factors affecting the critical device parameters such as the VOC and the JSC. This review examines the latest strategies, results, and trends that have evolvedin the design of solar cells with better efficiency and durability.