Hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells from a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and TiO2 nanotubes

Hybrid bulk heterojunction solar cells based on blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and TiO2 nanotubes or dye(N719) modified TiO2 nanotubes were processed from solution and characterized to research the nature of organic/inorganic hybrid materials. Compared with the pristine polymer P3HT and TiO2 nanoparticles/P3HT solar cells, the TiO2 nanotubes/P3HT hybrid solar cells show obvious performance improvement, due to the formation of the bulk heterojunction and charge transport improvement. A further improvement in the device performance can be achieved by modifying TiO2 nanotube surface with a standard dye N719 which can play a role in the improvement of both the light absorption and charge dissociation. Compared with the non-modified TiO2 nanotubes solar cells, the modified ones have better power conversion efficiency under 100 mW/cm(2) illumination with 500W Xenon lamp. (C) 2008 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

The application of SnS nanoparticles to bulk heterojunction solar cells

Tin mono-sulphide (SnS) nanoparticles were synthesized by a facile method. Reactions producing narrow size distribution SnS nanoparticles with the diameter of 5.0-10 nm were carried out in an ethylene glycol solution at 150 degrees C for 24 h. Bulk heterojunction solar cells with the structure of indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylenedioxythiophene polystyrenesulphonate (PEDOT PSS)/SnS polymer/Al were fabricated by blending the nanoparticles with a conjugated polymer to form the active layer for the first time. Current density-voltage characterization of the devices showed that due to the addition of SnS nanoparticles to the polymer film, the device performance can be dramatically improved, compared with that of the pristine polymer solar cells. (c) 2009 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Controlled phase separation for efficient energy conversion in dye/polymer blend bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells

Low-cost photovoltaic energy conversion using conjugated polymers has achieved great improvement due to the invention of organic bulk heterojunction. in which the nanoscale phase separation of electron donor and acceptor favors realizing efficient charge separation and collection. We investigated the polymer photovoltaic cells using N, N'-bis(1-ethylpropyl)-3,4,9,10-perylene bis(tetracarboxyl diimide)/poly(3-hexyl thiophene) blend as an active layer. It is found that processing conditions for the blend films have major effects on its morphology and hence the energy conversion efficiency of the resulting devices. By optimizing the processing conditions, the sizes of donor/acceptor phase separation can be adjusted for realizing efficient charge separation and collection. The overall energy conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic cell processed with optimized conditions increases by nearly 40% compared to the normally spin-coated and annealed cell.

Effect of Poly (3-hexylthiophene) Nanofibrils on Charge Separation and Transport in Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells

Crystalline poly (3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) nanofibrils are introduced into the P3HT: [6, 6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) composite films via P3HT preaggregation in solution by adding a small amount of acetone, and the correlation of P3HT nanofibrils and the optoelectronic properties of P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells is investigated. It is found that the optical absorption and the hole transport or the resulted P3HT:PCBM composite films increase with the increase of the amount of P3HT nanofibrils due to the increased P3HT crystallinity and highly interconnected nanofibrillar P3HT networks. However, it is also found that high contents of crystalline P3HT nanofibrils may restrain PCBM molecules from demixing with the P3HT component that forms electron traps in the active layer. and hence reduce the charge collection efficiency. Small contents of P3HT nanofibrils not only improve the demixing between P3HT and PCBM components, but also enhance the hole transport via crystalline P3HT nanofibrillar networks, resulting in efficient charge collection.

Effect of ultraviolet light on hybrid zinc oxide polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells

Compared to conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5- (3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) solar cells, bulk heterojunction solar cells composed of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocrystals and MDMO-PPV have a better energy conversion efficiency, However, ultraviolet (UV) light deteriorates the performance of solar cells composed of ZnO and MDMO-PPV. We propose a model to explain the effect of UV illumination on these ZnO:MDMO-PPV solar cells. According to this model, the degradation from UV illumination is due to a decrease of exciton dissociation efficiency, Our model is based on the experimental results such as the measurements of current density versus voltage, photoluminescence, and photocurrent.

Photovoltaic and electroluminescence characters in hybrid ZnO and conjugated polymer bulk heterojunction devices

We report electroluminescence in hybrid ZnO and conjugated polymer poly[2-methoxy-5-(3', 7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) bulk heterojuriction photovoltaic cells. Photolummescence quenching experimental results indicate that the ultra,fast photoinduced electron transfer occurs from MDMO-PPV to ZnO under illumination. The ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer effect is induced because ZnO has an electron affinity about 1.2 eV greater than that of MDMO-PPV. Electron 'back transfer' can occur if the interfacial barrier between ZnO and MDMO-PPV can be overcome by applying a substantial electric field. Therefore, electroluminescence action due to the fact that the back transfer effect can be observed in the ZnO:MDMO-PPV devices since a forward bias is applied. The photovoltaic and electroluminescence actions in the same ZnO:MDMO-PPV device can be induced by different injection ways: photoinjection and electrical injection. The devices are expected to provide an opportunity for dual functionality devices with photovoltaic effect and electroluminescence character.

Influence of interface modification on the performance of polymer/Bi2S3 nanorods bulk heterojunction solar cells

In this paper, bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices based on the poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)- 1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV):Bi2S3 nanorods hybrid material were present. To optimize the performance of the devices, the interface modification of the hybrid material that has a significant impact on the exciton dissociation efficiency was studied. An improvement in the device performance was achieved by modifying the Bi2S3 surface with a thin dye layer. Moreover, modifying the Bi2S3 surface with anthracene-9-carboxylic acid can enhance the performance further. Compared with the solar cells with Bi2S3 nanorods hybrid with the MDMO-PPV as the active layer, the anthracene-9carboxylic acid modified devices are better in performance, with the power conversion efficiency higher by about one order in magnitude.

Epitaxy-Assisted Creation of PCBM Nanocrystals and Its Application in Constructing Optimized Morphology for Bulk-Heterojunction Polymer Solar Cells

PCBM (a C-60 derivative) is so far the most successful electron acceptor for bulk-heterojunction polymer photovoltaic (PV) cells. Here we present a novel method epitaxy-assisted creation of PCBM nanocrystals and their homogeneous distribution in the matrix using freshly cleaved mica sheet as the substrate. The highly matched epitaxy relationship between the unit cell of PCBM crystal and crystallographic (001) surface of mica induces abundant PCBM nuclei, which subsequently develop into nanoscale crystals with homogeneous dispersion in the composite film.

The first liquid crystalline phthalocyanine derivative capable of edge-on alignment for solution processed organic thin-film transistors

Tetraoctyl-substituted vanadyl phthalocyanine (OVPc4C8) as a new NIR-absorbing discotic liquid crystalline material can form highly ordered thin films with edge-on alignment of the molecules and molecular packing mode identical to that in the phase II of OVPc for solution processed OTFTs with mobility up to 0.017 cm(2) V-1 s(-1).

Solvent Vapor-Induced Self Assembly and its Influence on Optoelectronic Conversion of Poly(3-hexylthiophene): Methanofullerene Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Cells

Nanoscale-phase separation of electron donor/acceptor blends is crucial for efficient charge generation and collection in Polymer bulk heterojunction photovoltaic cells. We investigated solvent vapor annealing effect of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/methanofullerene (PCBM) blend oil its morphology and optoelectronic properties. The organic solvents of choice for the treatment have a major effect oil the morphology of P3HT/PCBM blend and the device performance. Ultraviolet-visible absorption spectro,;copy shows that specific solvent vapor annealing can induce P3HT self-assembling to form well-ordered structure; and hence, file absorption in the red region and the hole transport are enhanced. The solvent that has a poor Solubility to PCBM Would cause large PCBM Clusters and result in a rough blend film. By combining an appropriate solvent vapor treatment and post-thermal annealing of the devices, the power conversion efficiency is enhanced.

Solvent-vapor treatment induced performance enhancement of poly(3-hexylthiophene): methanofullerene bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells

The authors report enhanced poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):methanofullerene (PCBM) bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic cells via 1,2-dichlorobenzene (DCB) vapor treatment and thermal annealing. DCB vapor treatment can induce P3HT self-organizing into ordered structure leading to enhanced absorption and high hole mobility. Further annealing the device at a high temperature, PCBM molecules begin to diffuse into aggregates and together with the ordered P3HT phase form bicontinuous pathways in the entire layer for efficient charge separation and transport. Compared to the control device that is merely annealed, optical absorption, short-circuit current, and power conversion efficiency are increased for the DCB vapor-treated cell.

Synthesis of MDMO-PPV capped PbS quantum dots and their application to solar cells

Poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) capped PbS quantum dots about 3-6 nm in diameter were synthesized with a novel method. Unlike the synthesis of oleic acid capped PbS quantum dots, the reactions were carried out in solution at room temperature, with the presence of a capping ligand species, MDMO-PPV. The quantum dots were used to fabricate bulk heterojunction solar cells with an indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulphonate (PEDOT: PSS)/MDMO-PPV: PbS/Al structure. Current density-voltage characterization of the devices showed that after the addition of the MDMO-PPV capped PbS quantum dots to MDMO-PPV film, the performance was dramatically improved compared with pristine MDMO-PPV solar cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The synthesis of MDMO-PPV capped PbS nanorods and their application in solar cells

Poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MDMO-PPV) capped PbS nanorods about 100 nm in diameter and 400 nm in length were synthesized via a hydrothermal route in toluene and dimethylsulfoxide solution. By blending the PbS nanorods with the MDMO-PPV as the active layer, bulk heterojunction solar cells with an indium tin oxide (ITO)/polyethylenedioxythiophene/polystyrenesulphonate (PEDOT PSS)/MDMO-PPV PbS nanorods/Al structure were fabricated in a N-2 filled glove box, Current density-voltage characterization of the devices showed that the solar cells with PbS nanorods hybrid with MDMO-PPV as active layer were better in performance than the devices with the polymer only. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multifunctional metallophosphors with anti-triplet–triplet annihilation properties for solution-processable electroluminescent devices

With the goal to provide organometallic triplet emitters with good hole-injection/hole-transporting properties, highly amorphous character for simple solution-processed organic light-emitting diodes, and negligible triplet-triplet (T-T) annihilation, a series of new phosphorescent cyclometalated Ir-III and Pt-II complexes with triphenylamine-anchored fluorenylpyridine dendritic ligands were synthesized and characterized. The photophysical, thermal, electrochemical and electroluminescent properties of these molecules are reported.

Solution-processible multi-component cyclometalated iridium phosphors for high-efficiency orange-emitting OLEDs and their potential use as white light sources

The synthesis and photophysical studies of several multifunctional phosphorescent iridium(III) cyclometalated complexes consisting of the hole-transporting carbazole and fluorene-based 2-phenylpyridine moieties are reported. All of them are isolated as thermally and morphological stable amorphous solids. Extension of the pi-conjugation through incorporation of electron- pushing carbazole units to the fluorene fragment leads to bathochromic shifts in the emission profile, increases the highest oc- cupied molecular orbital levels and improves the charge balance in the resulting complexes because of the propensity of the carbazole unit to facilitate hole transport. These iridium-based triplet emitters give a strong orange phosphorescence light at room temperature with relatively short lifetimes in the solution phase. The photo- and electroluminescence properties of these phosphorescent carbazolylfluorene-functionalized metalated complexes have been studied in terms of the coordinating position of carbazole to the fluorene unit. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using these complexes as the solution-processed emissive layers have been fabricated which show very high efficiencies even without the need for the typical hole-transporting layer.I These orange-emitting devices can produce a maximum current efficiency of similar to 30 cd A(-1) corresponding to an external quantum efficiency of similar to 10 % ph/el (photons per electron) and a power efficiency of similar to 14 Im W-1.