Origins of the Photocurrent Multiplication Effect in the Polythiophene-Based Photodetectors.

The photocurrent multiplication (PM) effect has been used to boost the device performance of polymer-based photodetectors (PDs), but its origin is rarely addressed. In this study, the origins of the PM effect in polymer PDs based on the P3HT:PC BM bulk heterojunction (BHJ) composite thin film, where P3HT is poly(3-hexylthiophene), and PC BM is [6,6]phenyl-C -butyric acid methyl ester, through both computational simulation and experimental investigation are reported. Systematic studies indicate that two key factors play an important role in the realization of the PM effect in polymer PDs. One factor is the work function of the metal electrode, and the other is the PC BM aggregations at the interface between the P3HT:PC BM BHJ composite thin film and the metal electrode. Moreover, the results from both experimental and computational simulation indicate that the values of the current density under light illumination minus the current density in the dark of polymer PDs are increased simultaneously along with the reduction of the thickness of the P3HT:PC BM BHJ composite thin film. The results provide an understanding of the PM effect in polymer PDs and guidance for the development of high-performance polymer PDs based on BHJ composite thin film.