Narrow band gap conjugated polymer for improving the photovoltaic performance of P3HT:PCBM ternary blend bulk heterojunction solar cells

A new D-A structured conjugated polymer (PBDO-T-TDP) based on electron-rich benzo 1,2-b:4,5-b'] difuran (BDO) containing conjugated alkylthiophene side chains with an electron-deficient diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) derivative is designed and synthesized. The polymer shows a narrow band gap with broad UV-Visible absorption spectra, which is in contrast to that of the P3HT:PCBM binary blend. Furthermore, its energy levels can meet the energetic requirement of the cascaded energy levels of P3HT and PCBM. Therefore, PBDO-T-TDP is used as a sensitizer in P3HT: PCBM based BHJ solar cells and its effect on their photovoltaic properties was investigated by blending them together at various weight ratios. It is observed that the resulting ternary blend system exhibited a significant improvement in the device performance (similar to 3.10%) as compared with their binary ones (similar to 2.15%). Such an enhancement in the ternary blend system is ascribed to their balanced hole and electron mobility along with uniform distribution of PBDO-T-TDP in the blend system, as revealed by organic field effect transistors and AFM studies.

Effect of Micro-Structured Copper as Cathode Material for P3HT-Based Diode

Here, the effect of micro-structured cathode material on the device performance of indium tin oxide/poly(3hexylethiophene)/copper diode (ITO/P3HT/Cu) is investigated. Two different forms of copper namely bulk metal (Cu{B}) and nanoparticle (Cu{N}) were used as top electrode to probe its effect on device performance. Crystallographic structure and nanoscale morphology of top Cu electrodes were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electronmicroscopy. Electrode formed by evaporation of copper nanoparticle showed enhancement in current density. From capacitance based spectroscopy we observed that density of trap states in ITO/P3HT/copper larger size grain (Cu-LG) are one order greater than that in ITO/P3HT/copper smaller size grain (Cu-SG) device.

Effect of process parameters on the morphology and nanostructure of roll-to-roll printed P3HT:PCBM thin films for organic photovoltaics

Roll-to-roll (R2R) gravure exhibits significant advantages such as high precision and throughput for the printing of photoactive and conductive materials and the fabrication of flexible organic electronics such as organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Since the photoactive layer is the core of the OPV, it is important to investigate and finally control the process parameters and mechanisms that define the film morphology in a R2R process. The scope of this work is to study the effect of the R2R gravure printing and drying process on the nanomorphology and nanostructure of the photoactive P3HT:PCBM thin films printed on PEDOT:PSS electrodes towards the fabrication of indium tin oxide (ITO)-free flexible OPVs. In order to achieve this, P3HT:PCBM blends of different concentration were R2R printed under various speeds on the PEDOT:PSS layers. Due to the limited drying time during the rolling, an amount of solvent remains in the P3HT:PCBM films and the slow-drying process takes place which leads to the vertical and lateral phase separation, according to the Spectroscopic Ellipsometry and Atomic Force Microscopy analysis. The enhanced slow-drying leads to stronger phase separation, larger P3HT crystallites according to the Grazing Incidence X-Ray Diffraction data and to weaker mechanical response as it was shown by the nanoindentation creep. However, in the surface of the films the P3HT crystallization is controlled by the impinged hot air during the drying, where the more the drying time the larger the surface P3HT crystallites. The integration of the printed P3HT:PCBM and PEDOT:PSS layers in an OPV device underlined the feasibility of fabricating ITO-free flexible OPVs by R2R gravure processes. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Evolution of vertical phase separation in P3HT:PCBM thin films induced by thermal annealing

The achievement of the desirable morphology at the nanometer scale of bulk heterojunctions consisting of a conjugated polymer with fullerene derivatives is a prerequisite in order to optimize the power conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. The various experimental conditions such as the choice of solvent, drying rates and annealing have been found to significantly affect the blend morphology and the final performance of the photovoltaic device. In this work, we focus on the effects of post deposition thermal annealing at 140 °C on the blend morphology, the optical and structural properties of bulk heterojunctions that consist of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and a methanofullerene derivative (PCBM). The post thermal annealing modifies the distribution of the P3HT and the PCBM inside the blend films, as it has been found by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry studies in the visible to far-ultraviolet spectral range. Phase separation was identified by AFM and GIXRD as a result of a slow drying process which took place after the spin coating process. The increase of the annealing time resulted to a significant increase of the P3HT crystallinity at the top regions of the blend films. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Thermal annealing effect on the nanomechanical properties and structure of P3HT:PCBM thin films

Nanostructured polymer-fullerene thin films are among the most prominent materials for application in high efficient polymer solar cells. Specifically, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and fullerene derivatives (PCBM) blends are used as the donor/acceptor materials forming a bulk heterojunction. Although P3HT:PCBM properties have been extensively studied, less light has been set on its nanomechanical properties, which affect the device service life. In this work Atomic Force Acoustic Microscopy (AFAM), Atomic Force Spectroscopy and Nanoindentation were used to study the effect of the fullerene presence and the annealing on the P3HT:PCBM nanomechanical behavior. The P3HT:PCBM thin films were prepared by spin coating on glass substrates and then annealed at 100 °C and 145 °C for 30 min. Large phase separation was identified by optical and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) for the annealed samples. Needle-like PCBM crystals were formed and an increase of the polymer crystallinity degree with the increase of the annealing temperature was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. AFAM characterization revealed the presence of aggregates close to stiff PCBM crystals, possibly consisting of amorphous P3HT material. AFM force-distance curves showed a continuous change in stiffness in the vicinity of the PCBM crystals, due to the PCBM depletion near its crystals, and the AFM indentation provided qualitative results about the changes in P3HT nanomechanical response after annealing. © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Graphene nanoribbon blends with P3HT for organic electronics.

In organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) the electrical characteristics of polymeric semiconducting materials suffer from the presence of structural/morphological defects and grain boundaries as well as amorphous domains within the film, hindering an efficient transport of charges. To improve the percolation of charges we blend a regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with newly designed N = 18 armchair graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). The latter, prepared by a bottom-up solution synthesis, are expected to form solid aggregates which cannot be easily interfaced with metallic electrodes, limiting charge injection at metal-semiconductor interfaces, and are characterized by a finite size, thus by grain boundaries, which negatively affect the charge transport within the film. Both P3HT and GNRs are soluble/dispersible in organic solvents, enabling the use of a single step co-deposition process. The resulting OFETs show a three-fold increase in the charge carrier mobilities in blend films, when compared to pure P3HT devices. This behavior can be ascribed to GNRs, and aggregates thereof, facilitating the transport of the charges within the conduction channel by connecting the domains of the semiconductor film. The electronic characteristics of the devices such as the Ion/Ioff ratio are not affected by the addition of GNRs at different loads. Studies of the electrical characteristics under illumination for potential use of our blend films as organic phototransistors (OPTs) reveal a tunable photoresponse. Therefore, our strategy offers a new method towards the enhancement of the performance of OFETs, and holds potential for technological applications in (opto)electronics.

Highly Stretchable Conducting SIBS-P3HT Fibers

Poly(styrene-β-isobutylene-β-styrene)-poly(3-hexylthiophene) (SIBS-P3HT) conducting composite fibers are successfully produced using a continuous flow approach. Composite fibers are stiffer than SIBS fibers and able to withstand strains of up 975% before breaking. These composite fibers exhibit interesting reversible mechanical and electrical characteristics, which are applied to demonstrate their strain gauging capabilities. This will facilitate their potential applications in strain sensing or elastic electrodes. Here, the fabrication and characterization of highly stretchable electrically conducting SIBS-P3HT fibers using a solvent/non-solvent wet-spinning technique is reported. This fabrication method combines the processability of conducting SIBS-P3HT blends with wet-spinning, resulting in fibers that could be easily spun up to several meters long. The resulting composite fiber materials exhibit an increased stiffness (higher Young’s modulus) but lower ductility compared to SIBS fibers. The fibers’ reversible mechanical and electrical characteristics are applied to demonstrate their strain gauging capabilities.

Modelling polymers with side chains: MEH-PPV and P3HT

Modelling polymers with side chains is always a challenge once the degrees of freedom are very high. In this study, we present a successful methodology to model poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethyl-hexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and poly[3-hexylthiophene] (P3HT) in solutions, taking into account the influence of side chains on the polymer conformation. Molecular dynamics and semi-empirical quantum mechanical methods were used for structure optimisation and evaluation of optical properties. The methodology allows to describe structural and optical characteristics of the polymers in a satisfactory way, as well as to evaluate some usual simplifications adopted for modelling these systems. Effective conjugation lengths of 8-14.6 and 21 monomers were obtained for MEH-PPV and P3HT, respectively, in accordance with experimental findings. In addition, anti/syn conformations of these polymers could be predicted based on intrinsic interactions of the lateral branches. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Structure of P3HT in the solid state

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Molecular design of new P3HT derivatives: Adjusting electronic energy levels for blends with PCBM

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Investigation of P3HT PCBM particle-based solar cells

Die Herstellung von Polymer-Solarzellen aus wässriger Phase stellt eine attraktive Alternative zu der konventionellen lösemittelbasierten Formulierung dar. Die Vorteile der aus wässriger Lösung hergestellten Solarzellen liegen besonders in dem umweltschonenden Herstellungsprozess und in der Möglichkeit, druckbare optoelektronische Bauteile zu generieren. Die Prozessierbarkeit von hydrophoben Halbleitern im wässrigen Milieu wird durch die Dispergierung der Materialien, in Form von Nanopartikeln, erreicht. Der Transfer der Halbleiter in eine Dispersion erfolgt über die Lösemittelverdampfungsmethode. Die Idee der Verwendung von partikelbasierte Solarzellen wurde bereits umgesetzt, allerdings blieben eine genaue Charakterisierung der Partikel sowie ein umfassendes Verständnis des gesamten Fabrikationsvorgangs aus. Deshalb besteht das Ziel dieser Arbeit darin, einen detaillierten Einblick in den Herstellungsprozess von partikelbasierten Solarzellen zu erlangen, mögliche Schwächen aufzudecken, diese zu beseitigen, um so zukünftige Anwendungen zu verbessern. Zur Herstellung von Solarzellen aus wässrigen Dispersionen wurde Poly(3-hexylthiophen-2,5-diyl)/[6,6]-Phenyl-C61-Buttersäure-Methylester (P3HT/PCBM) als Donor/Akzeptor-System verwendet. Die Kernpunkte der Untersuchungen richteten sich zum einen die auf Partikelmorphologie und zum anderen auf die Generierung einer geeigneten Partikelschicht. Beide Parameter haben Auswirkungen auf die Solarzelleneffizienz. Die Morphologie wurde sowohl spektroskopisch über Photolumineszenz-Messungen, als auch visuell mittels Elektronenmikroskopie ermittelt. Auf diese Weise konnte die Partikelmorphologie vollständig aufgeklärt werden, wobei Parallelen zu der Struktur von lösemittelbasierten Solarzellen gefunden wurden. Zudem wurde eine Abhängigkeit der Morphologie von der Präparationstemperatur beobachtet, was eine einfache Steuerung der Partikelstruktur ermöglicht. Im Zuge der Partikelschichtausbildung wurden direkte sowie grenzflächenvermittelnde Beschichtungsmethoden herangezogen. Von diesen Techniken hatte sich aber nur die Rotationsbeschichtung als brauchbare Methode erwiesen, Partikel aus der Dispersion in einen homogenen Film zu überführen. Des Weiteren stand die Aufarbeitung der Partikelschicht durch Ethanol-Waschung und thermische Behandlung im Fokus dieser Arbeit. Beide Maßnahmen wirkten sich positiv auf die Effizienz der Solarzellen aus und trugen entscheidend zu einer Verbesserung der Zellen bei. Insgesamt liefern die gewonnen Erkenntnisse einen detaillierten Überblick über die Herausforderungen, welche bei dem Einsatz von wasserbasierten Dispersionen auftreten. Die Anforderungen partikelbasierter Solarzellen konnten offengelegt werden, dadurch gelang die Herstellung einer Solarzelle mit einer Effizienz von 0.53%. Dieses Ergebnis stellt jedoch noch nicht das Optimum dar und lässt noch Möglichkeiten für Verbesserungen offen.