Journal ArticleDOI
Interdiffusion of PCBM and P3HT Reveals Miscibility in a Photovoltaically Active Blend
Neil D. Treat,Michael A. Brady,Gordon Smith,Michael F. Toney,Edward J. Kramer,Craig J. Hawker,Michael L. Chabinyc +6 more
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In this paper, a bilayer of poly(3-hexyl thiophene (P3HT) and poly(6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction was used for thermal annealing.Abstract:
Developing a better understanding of the evolution of morphology in plastic solar cells is the key to designing new materials and structures that achieve photoconversion efficiencies greater than 10% In the most extensively characterized system, the poly(3-hexyl thiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric-acid-methyl-ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunction, the origins and evolution of the blend morphology during processes such as thermal annealing are not well understood In this work, we use a model system, a bilayer of P3HT and PCBM, to develop a more complete understanding of the miscibility and diffusion of PCBM within P3HT during thermal annealing We find that PCBM aggregates and/or molecular species are miscible and mobile in disordered P3HT, without disrupting the ordered lamellar stacking of P3HT chains The fast diffusion of PCBM into the amorphous regions of P3HT suggests the favorability of mixing in this system, opposing the belief that phase-pure domains form in BHJs due to immiscibility of these two componentsread more
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25th anniversary article: Bulk heterojunction solar cells: understanding the mechanism of operation.
TL;DR: The status of understanding of the operation of bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells is reviewed and a summary of the problems to be solved to achieve the predicted power conversion efficiencies of >20% for a single cell is concluded.
Journal ArticleDOI
Molecular design and ordering effects in π-functional materials for transistor and solar cell applications.
TL;DR: This Perspective analyzes some of the most exciting strategies recently suggested in the design and structural organization of π-functional materials for transistor and solar cell applications and places emphasis on the interplay between molecular structure, self-assembling properties, nanoscale and mesoscale ordering, and device efficiency parameters.
Journal ArticleDOI
Nonfullerene Acceptor Molecules for Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells
Guangye Zhang,Jingbo Zhao,Philip C. Y. Chow,Kui Jiang,Jianquan Zhang,Zonglong Zhu,Jie Zhang,Fei Huang,He Yan,He Yan +9 more
TL;DR: Progress is summarized, aiming to describe the molecular design strategy, to provide insight into the structure-property relationship, and to highlight the challenges the field is facing, with emphasis placed on most recent nonfullerene acceptors that demonstrated top-of-the-line photovoltaic performances.
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Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells: Morphology and Performance Relationships
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantitative determination of organic semiconductor microstructure from the molecular to device scale.
TL;DR: The authors would like to thank M. Chabinyc, H. Ade, B. Noriega, K. Vandewal, and D. Duong for fruitful discussions in the preparation of this review and the Center for Advanced Molecular Photovoltaics for funding.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Conjugated polymer-based organic solar cells
TL;DR: This review gives a general introduction to the materials, production techniques, working principles, critical parameters, and stability of the organic solar cells, and discusses the alternative approaches such as polymer/polymer solar cells and organic/inorganic hybrid solar cells.
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Design Rules for Donors in Bulk‐Heterojunction Solar Cells—Towards 10 % Energy‐Conversion Efficiency
Markus C. Scharber,David Mühlbacher,Markus Koppe,Patrick Denk,Christoph Waldauf,Alan J. Heeger,Christoph J. Brabec +6 more
TL;DR: In this article, the authors presented a review of several organic photovoltaics (OPV) technologies, including conjugated polymers with high-electron-affinity molecules like C60 (as in the bulk-heterojunction solar cell).
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Thermally stable, efficient polymer solar cells with nanoscale control of the interpenetrating network morphology
TL;DR: By applying specific fabrication conditions summarized in the Experimental section and post-production annealing at 150°C, polymer solar cells with power-conversion efficiency approaching 5% were demonstrated.
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Polymer–Fullerene Composite Solar Cells
TL;DR: Polymer-based organic photovoltaic systems hold the promise for a cost-effective, lightweight solar energy conversion platform, which could benefit from simple solution processing of the active layer.
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Effects of Postproduction Treatment on Plastic Solar Cells
TL;DR: In this article, a post-production treatment that improves the performance of solar cells based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was developed.