This study investigates experimentally the fundamental photovoltaic behavior and performance of a new architecture of 'all-polymer' photovoltaic cells made of a large array of high-aspect ratio three-dimensional electrodes surrounded by a matrix of polymer photoactive material. The new 3-D architecture presented here is characterized by a significant departure from conventional photovoltaic (PV) technologies and makes unique contributions by (i) decreasing diffusion length for charge carriers through an array of high aspect-ratio 3-D electrode posts, and (ii) providing deeper optical thickness through high-aspect ratio 3-D charge collectors. The high aspect-ratio 3-D electrodes which form the basis for this new architecture are patterned through MEMS based processes. By using PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) as a flexible substrate, a potentially wearable organic solar cell is enabled. In this study, the efficiency of this new architecture of charge collectors, the effects of OrgaconTM layer as anodes, effect of 3-dimensionality of electrodes, density of microelectrode array, and effect of heat treatment of the photoactive material are investigated. Here ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) is eliminated with use of a transparent conductive polymer called OrgaconTM (Agfa-Gevaert Group). Further, the contribution of several layers of photoactive material with tailored properties that is enabled by high aspect-ratio of charge collecting electrodes towards the overall efficiency is experimentally investigated.
