This paper presents the results of a combined experimental and analytical/computational study of the effects of pressure on photoconversion efficiencies of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). First, an analytical model is used to predict the effects of pressure on interfacial contact in the multilayered structures of PSCs. The PSCs are then fabricated before applying a range of pressures to the devices to improve their interfacial surface contacts. The results show that the photoconversion efficiencies of PSCs increase by ~40%, for applied pressures between 0 and ~7 MPa. However, the photoconversion efficiencies decrease with increasing pressure beyond ~7 MPa. The implications of the results are discussed for the fabrication of efficient PSCs.

This paper presents the results of experimental and theoretical/computational micro-wrinkles and buckling on the surfaces of stretchable poly-dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) coated with nano-scale Gold (Au) layers. The wrinkles and buckles are formed by the unloading of pre-stretched PDMS/ Au structure after the evaporation of nano-scale Au layers. They are then characterized using atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The critical stresses required for wrinkling and buckling are analyzed using analytical models. The possible interfacial cracking that can occur along with film buckling is also studied using finite element simulations of the interfacial crack growth. The implications of the results are discussed for potential applications of microwrinkles and micro-buckles in stretchable electronic structures and biomedical devices.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the adhesion between bi-material pairs that are relevant to organic light emitting devices, hybrid organic/inorganic light emitting devices, organic bulk heterojunction solar cells, and hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells on flexible substrates. Adhesion between the possible bi-material pairs is measured using force microscopy (AFM) techniques. These include: interfaces that are relevant to organic light emitting devices, hybrid organic/inorganic light emitting devices, bulk heterojunction solar cells, and hybrid combinations of titanium dioxide (TiO 2) and poly(3-hexylthiophene). The results of AFM measurements are incorporated into the Derjaguin-Muller-Toporov model for the determination of adhesion energies. The implications of the results are then discussed for the design of robust organic and hybrid organic/inorganic electronic devices. V

This paper explored the effects of pressure on contacts between layers of organic photovoltaic cells with poly (3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) as the active layer. The contacts between the layers are modeled using analytical concepts and finite element models. The potential effects of surface roughness and dust particles are modeled along with the effects of lamination pressure and adhesion energy. The results show that, increased pressure is associated with decreased void length or increased contact length. The contacts associated with the interfaces between the active layer and the hole/electron injection layer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene: poly styrenesulphonate (PEDOT.PSS) and Molybdenum trioxide (MoO3) are also compared. The implications of the results are discussed for the design of stamping/lamination processes for the fabrication of organic photovoltaic cells.

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of surface texture on the optical and light trapping properties of silicon wafers. Surface texture is controlled by anisotropic etching with potassium hydroxide (KOH) and isopropyl alcohol (IPA) solutions. The anisotropic etching of (001) crystalline silicon wafers is shown to result in the formation of {111} pyramidal facets on the surfaces of the wafers. A combination of profilometry, optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy is used to study the effects of KOH/IPA etching on the morphology and roughness of the textured surfaces. The results show that IPA concentration has the strongest effect on the surface roughness of (001)-single crystal crystals at temperatures up to 80 °C. Above this value, evidence of temperature-induced cracking was revealed on the silicon substrate. The best volume concentration ratio of KOH:IPA is also found to be 2:4. The implications of the study are discussed for the design of light trapping in silicon solar cells.

This paper presents the results of an analytical and computational study of the contacts and interfacial fracture associated with the cold welding of Organic Light Emitting diodes (OLEDs). The effects of impurities (within the possible interfaces) are explored for contacts and interfacial fracture between layers that are relevant to model OLEDs. The models are used to study the effects of adhesion, pressure, thin film layer thickness and dust particle modulus (between the contacting surfaces) on contact profiles around impurities between cold-welded thin films. The lift-off stage of thin films (during cold welding) is then modeled as an interfacial fracture process. A combination of adhesion and interfacial fracture theories is used to provide new insights for the design of improved contact and interfacial separation during cold welding. The implications of the results are discussed for the design and fabrication of cold welded OLED structures.

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Incorporation of cesium (Cs) into the perovskite layer has become a good strategy to boost the stability and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). However, a suitable and scalable method of Cs incorporation in a perovskite film that does not cause a significant increase in the optical bandgap is needed. In this paper, we introduce a thin layer of CsBr into a formamidinium (FA)-rich mixed halide perovskite film using the thermal evaporation technique. The effects of the thickness of the CsBr layer on the microstructural, structural, and optoelectronic properties and surface chemical states of the perovskite film are then studied. The results indicate that the CsBr layer thickness is able to tune the microstructural and optoelectronic properties of the perovskite film. Planar PSCs fabricated with different thicknesses of CsBr layers in the perovskite absorber exhibited different photovoltaic performance characteristics. The CsBr-modified PSC device with a 50 nm layer of CsBr in the perovskite layer showed a better PCE of 16.19% ± 0.17%, which was about 15% higher than that of the control device, and was able to retain nearly 70% of its initial PCE value after 120 days of storage in an unencapsulated state.