Controlling donor crystallinity and phase separation in bulk heterojunction solar cells by the introduction of orthogonal solvent additives

MRS Advances ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (33) ◽  
pp. 1891-1900 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahidul Alam ◽  
Rico Meitzner ◽  
Christian Kaestner ◽  
Christoph Ulbricht ◽  
Stephanie Hoeppener ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Separation Efficiency ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Fullerene Derivative ◽  
Common Solution ◽  
The Common ◽  
Orthogonal Solvent

ABSTRACTThe bulk heterojunction morphology of organic solar cells widely controls their device efficiency and stability. Structural order and domain size of the donor phase strongly impact the charge separation efficiency, recombination rates, and the hole percolation through the bulk to the electrode. Herewith, we report a comprehensive study on the control of polymeric order already initiated in solution by the introduction of orthogonal solvent additives to the common solution of anthracene containing poly(p-phenylene-ethynylene)-alt-poly(p-phenylene-vinylene) (PPE-PPV) copolymer, bearing statistically substituted linear octyloxy and 2-ethylhexyloxy side-chains in 1:1 ratio along the backbone (AnE-PVstat), and fullerene derivative phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). The first solvent, a 1:1 blend of chlorobenzene and chloroform, had been discovered to promote phase separation in solution and deposited films. This effect could be further enhanced and was precisely controlled by addition of methanol to the common solution in various volume fractions. Thus the ability to transfer the polymer aggregates from the solution into films was applied to solar cells and is investigated in detail.

scholarly journals Investigation of PCBM Concentration on the Performance of Small Organic Solar Cell

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasser A. M. Ismail ◽  
T. Soga ◽  
T. Jimbo
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Charge Carrier ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Fullerene Derivative ◽  
Performance Parameters ◽  
Carrier Separation

We have fabricated bulk heterojunction organic solar cells using coumarin 6 (C6) as a small organic dye, for light harvesting and electron donating, with fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), acting as an electron acceptor, by spin-coating technique of the blend solutions. We have studied effect of PCBM concentration on photocurrent and performance parameters of the solar cells. We found that the optical absorption of the dye increased with increasing its concentration in the active layer blends. The higher concentrations of PCBM in active layer enhanced the photocurrent of the solar cells, as a result of improving charge carrier separation and electron transport in solar cell active layer. The improved charge carrier separation between C6, as a donor, and PCBM, as an acceptor, was indicated through the formation of bulk heterojunction by blending C6 with PCBM. The formation of C6:PCBM bulk heterojunction blend was confirmed through the symbatic behavior of the corresponding solar cell and, also, through the homogeneity and smoothing in the atomic force microscopy images of the C6:PCBM blend films. For the same reasons, the performance parameters of the C6:PCBM solar cell improved by modification of the PCBM concentration in the solar cell active layer.

scholarly journals Fullerene derivative induced morphology of bulk heterojunction blends: PIPCP:PC61BM

RSC Advances ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 4106-4112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tzu-Yen Huang ◽  
Hongping Yan ◽  
Maged Abdelsamie ◽  
Victoria Savikhin ◽  
Sebastian A. Schneider ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Degree Of Crystallinity ◽  
Fullerene Derivative ◽  
Bulk Heterojunctions ◽  
Donor Acceptor ◽  
Acceptor Phase

The performance of organic solar cells depends on the morphology in bulk heterojunctions, including the polymer degree of crystallinity and the amount of each phase: aggregated donor, aggregated acceptor and molecularly mixed donor : acceptor phase.

scholarly journals Polyethylenimine-Ethoxylated Interfacial Layer for Efficient Electron Collection in SnO2-Based Inverted Organic Solar Cells

Crystals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 731
Author(s):  
Ikram Anefnaf ◽  
Safae Aazou ◽  
Guy Schmerber ◽  
Siham Refki ◽  
Nicolas Zimmermann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Tin Dioxide ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Cathode Layer ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Electron Collection ◽  
Cathode Buffer Layer ◽  
20 Nm

In this work, we studied inverted organic solar cells based on bulk heterojunction using poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) as an active layer and a novel cathode buffer bilayer consisting of tin dioxide (SnO2) combined with polyethylenimine-ethoxylated (PEIE) to overcome the limitations of the single cathode buffer layer. The combination of SnO2 with PEIE is a promising approach that improves the charge carrier collection and reduces the recombination. The efficient device, which is prepared with a cathode buffer bilayer of 20 nm SnO2 combined with 10 nm PEIE, achieved Jsc = 7.86 mA/cm2, Voc = 574 mV and PCE = 2.84%. The obtained results exceed the performances of reference solar cell using only a single cathode layer of either SnO2 or PEIE.

Roll-to-Roll Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Plastic Solar Cells using the Reverse Gravure Coating Technique

2008 ◽  
Vol 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Tobjork ◽  
Harri Aarnio ◽  
Tapio Mäkelä ◽  
Ronald Österbacka
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Ambient Air ◽  
Plastic Substrate ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽  
Coating Technique ◽  
Roll To Roll ◽  
Poly Styrene Sulfonate

AbstractThe roll-to-roll reverse gravure (RG) coating technique was used to produce thin homogeneous films (∼100 nm) for organic bulk heterojunction solar cells. The conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) and the active layer regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) were successfully subsequently RG coated on an ITO covered plastic substrate in ambient air. Working solar cells were achieved after annealing and thermal evaporation of the top contact. The AM1.5 power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the RG coated organic solar cells was determined to 0.74% (at 100 mW/cm2). This was very similar to the results of a reference device that was spin coated on a glass substrate in a nitrogen glove box.

A mono(carboxy)porphyrin-triazine-(bodipy)2triad as a donor for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (24) ◽  
pp. 6209-6217 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ganesh D. Sharma ◽  
S. A. Siddiqui ◽  
Agapi Nikiforou ◽  
Galateia E. Zervaki ◽  
Irene Georgakaki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Solution Processed ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

A mono(carboxy)porphyrin-triazine-(bodipy)2triad(PorCOOH)(BDP)2has been used as a donor with ([6,6]-phenyl C71butyric acid methyl ester) (PC71BM) as an acceptor, in BHJ - solution processed organic solar cells.

Altering the Thermodynamics of Phase Separation in Inverted Bulk-Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (30) ◽  
pp. 3110-3115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Su Kim ◽  
Leonard L. Tinker ◽  
Brian F. DiSalle ◽  
Enrique D. Gomez ◽  
Stephanie Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction

Deformation and Failure of Bendable Organic Solar Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 1132 ◽  
pp. 116-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Asare ◽  
B. Agyei-Tuffour ◽  
O.K. Oyewole ◽  
G.M. Zebaze-Kana ◽  
W.O. Soboyejo
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Indium Tin Oxide ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Visible Spectrum ◽  
Optical Transmittance ◽  
Hole Injection ◽  
Deformation And Failure ◽  
Organic Layers

This research investigates the effects of bending on the electrical, optical, structural and mechanical properties of flexible organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells. Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells were fabricated on Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrates using Poly-3-hexylthiophene: [6, 6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) as the active layer and Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) Polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT: PSS) as the hole injection layer. All the organic layers were deposited by spin coating while the Al cathode was vacuum thermally evaporated. The Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) anode has an average optical transmittance of 85% in the visible spectrum, a sheet resistivity of 60 ohms per square and an average surface roughness of 3nm. The relationship between the optoelectronic performance of the various device layers and the applied mechanical strains has been analyzed. The effects of stress and strain on the current-voltage characteristics of the device and its failure were modeled using the Abaqus software.

Crystallization-Induced Phase Separation in Solution-Processed Small Molecule Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (23) ◽  
pp. 3543-3550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Sharenko ◽  
Martijn Kuik ◽  
Michael F. Toney ◽  
Thuc-Quyen Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Solution Processed

Nanoscale Phase Separation in Ternary Organic Solar Cells Based on PTB7:PC70BM:IC70BA

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 5749-5755
Author(s):  
Chang Li ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Xiaoxiang Sun ◽  
Jifei Wang ◽  
Jiayou Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Weight Ratio ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Hole Transport ◽  
Fullerene Derivative

As a fullerene derivative, IC70BA is widely used in the ternary organic solar cells (TOSCs) to increase the open circuit voltage (Voc) of the devices. Unfortunately, most of the literature shows that IC70BA will lead to a reduction in the short-circuit current density (Jsc) and fill factor (FF). In this work, IC70BA is added to the PTB7:PC70BM binary system to form the ternary system, which is composed of one donor and two fullerene acceptors. Surprisingly, the addition of IC70BA does not immediately lead to a decrease in Jsc and FF. In fact, the appropriate weight ratio of IC70BA in fullerenes can simultaneously increase the Voc, Jsc, and FF of the TOSCs. The synergistic optimization of the surface and bulk morphology of the ternary active layer suppresses the attenuation of Jsc and FF. The smooth surface and suitable phase separation size effectively guarantee the separation, transport and extraction of the charge. Moreover, the addition of IC70BA can significantly improve the hole transport capacity of the active layer, and the optimal hole mobility is 5.13 – 10”4 cm2V–1S–1. Finally, the TOSCs with 10% weight ratio of IC70BA gives the optimal PCE of 9.24% and ideality factor of 2.3.

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