P3HT:PCBM, Best Seller in Polymer Photovoltaic Research (original) (raw)

Organic photovoltaic solar cells (OPVs) based on solution-processed bulk-heterojunctions of semiconducting polymers have gained significant attention in renewable energy since their inception in 1995. This survey focuses on the prominent P3HT:PCBM material system, analyzing 579 publications reporting photovoltaic cells and their power-conversion efficiencies (PCEs). The research reveals a slow increase in average efficiency from the initial 2.8% to around 3% in 2010, with a distribution predominantly between 3% and 4%. Key challenges in efficiently reporting and measuring PCEs are discussed, emphasizing the importance of standardized testing conditions and certification to avoid discrepancies in reported efficiencies.