Organic vapour-phase deposition (OVPDO(R)) is used for the growth of the organic solar cell component materials such as the donor copper phthalocyanine (CuPc), the acceptor fallerene C-60, and electron-conducting buffer layers of bathocuproine (BCP) on Si < 100 > wafers and indium tin oxide (ITO) substrates on areas as large as 15 x 15 cm(2). By means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis we show that under continuous operating conditions the source materials possess long-term stability. The CuPc, C-60 and BCP thin film morphology and structure are characterised using scanning electron microscopy and XRD analysis. We demonstrate CuPc thin films with a highly folded surface morphology suitable for the preparation of solar cells with an interpenetrating donor-acceptor interface. The XRD diffraction patterns of the CuPc and C-60 layers deposited under conditions appropriate for the preparation of organic solar cells show spectra typical for these materials. Mixed CuPc:C-60 layers with controlled constituent ratios and layer thickness are deposited for the preparation of organic solar cells. First ITO/CuPc:C-60/Al organic photovoltaic devices are prepared with an efficiency of similar to 1% (conditions AM 1.5). (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.