Effect of modular diffraction gratings on absorption in P3HT:PCBM layers

Various gratings with 700 nm feature spacings are patterned on the reverse side of organic solar cell active layers to increase the path length and constrain light to the cell through total internal reflection. The absorption enhancement is studied for 15, 40, and 120 nm active layers. We were able to confine 9% of the incident light over the wavelength range of 400–650 nm, with thinner gratings having a greater enhancement potential. The measurement setup utilizing an integrating sphere to fully characterize scattered or diffracted light is also fully described.