Origin of Open-Circuit Voltage Loss in Polymer Solar Cells and Perovskite Solar Cells

Herein, the open-circuit voltage (<i>V</i>_OC) loss in both polymer solar cells and perovskite solar cells is quantitatively analyzed by measuring the temperature dependence of <i>V</i>_OC to discuss the difference in the primary loss mechanism of <i>V</i>_OC between them. As a result, the photon energy loss for polymer solar cells is in the range of about 0.7–1.4 eV, which is ascribed to temperature-independent and -dependent loss mechanisms, while that for perovskite solar cells is as small as about 0.5 eV, which is ascribed to a temperature-dependent loss mechanism. This difference is attributed to the different charge generation and recombination mechanisms between the two devices. The potential strategies for the improvement of <i>V</i>_OC in both solar cells are further discussed on the basis of the experimental data