A Phase Diagram of the P3HT:PCBM Organic Photovoltaic System: Implications for Device Processing and Performance

Hopkinson, Paul E.; Staniec, Paul A.; Pearson, Andrew J.; Dunbar, Alan D. F.; Wang, Tao; Ryan, Anthony J.; Jones, Richard; Lidzey, David G.; Donald, Athene M.

doi:10.1021/ma102524a

Cited by 109 publications

(168 citation statements)

References 36 publications

(56 reference statements)

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“…disrupt polymer crystallisation when present at suffi ciently high weight concentration within the blend fi lm. [ 43 ] To rationalise the changes in X-ray scattering intensity from PC 70 BM molecules after the onset of coalescence, we again compare the dynamics of fi lm drying as observed using GIWAXS with simultaneous SE measurements. This is shown in Figure 8 , where we plot the intensity of X-ray scattering from …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology Development in Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Photovoltaic Blend Films During Solution Casting

Pearson

Wang

Dunbar

et al. 2013

Adv Funct Materials

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659www.MaterialsViews.com wileyonlinelibrary.com . IntroductionThe ability to process photovoltaic devices using solution-based techniques is an attractive proposition [ 1,2 ] owing to the potential for such devices to be manufactured over large areas at low cost. [ 3 ] Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices are one category of solution processable photovoltaics that have seen a rapid rise in power conversion effi ciency (PCE) [ 4,5 ] and operating lifetime [ 6 ] in recent years, bringing the technology closer to the specifi cations deemed necessary for commercial viability. [ 7,8 ] The photoactive semiconducting layer within these devices is typically composed of a blend of a conjugated polymer and a functionalised fullerene, forming a self-assembled bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) architecture. In addition to the electronic properties of the constituent semiconductors, the structure of the BHJ has been demonstrated to signifi cantly infl uence the efficiency of photocurrent generation. [9][10][11][12] It is presently believed that BHJ fi lms are characterised by a partially phase separated nanoscale morphology, with co-existing regions of pure polymer, pure fullerene and a mixed polymer/ fullerene phase all being present. [13][14][15][16] Effi cient OPVs are in general characterised by structures that exist over a series of length-scales, including organisation at molecular length-scales and the formation of nanoscale percolated networks, with each length-scale having an important infl uence on the processes of photocurrent generation and charge extraction. To optimise BHJ morphology and create an OPV device having a high PCE requires control over many different parameters, including the choice of solvent, the conditions of fi lm casting and the possible application of post-fi lm deposition techniques.Several studies [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25] have applied a range of techniques to probe the formation and evolution of morphology in polymer:fullerene blend fi lms during various stages in their preparation, drying and post processing in order to gain insight into the dynamic mechanisms that drive morphology evolution. [ 26 ] In addition to an improved physical understanding of such processes, the information obtained is likely to be of signifi cant importance if such materials and devices undergo commercialisation and manufacture, as real-time process control will be a critical requirement. To date, the majority of Morphology Development in Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Photovoltaic Blend Films During Solution CastingAndrew J. Pearson ,* Tao Wang , Alan D. F. Dunbar , Hunan Yi , Darren C. Watters , David M. Coles , Paul A. Staniec , Ahmed Iraqi , Richard A. L. Jones , and David G. Lidzey * The evolution of fi lm structure is reported during solution casting of PCDTBT:PC 70 BM 1:4 wt%, a polymer:fullerene blend system that fi nds application in an organic photovoltaic device. Using the complimentary techniques of grazing-incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering and spectroscopic ellipsometry, a number of distinct proc...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology Development in Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Photovoltaic Blend Films During Solution Casting

Pearson

Wang

Dunbar

et al. 2013

Adv Funct Materials

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“…The rigid acceptor phase also has a significant ordering effect on the BHJ, which is the origin of its anti-plasticization effects. 85 This is because large PCBM (5) domains lead to increased embrittlement due to the sharp boundaries between each crystallite. 75,84,86 Outside of ordering, the BHJ can co-crystallize.…”

Section: Effect Of Alkyl Side Chainsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structure and design of polymers for durable, stretchable organic electronics

Onorato

Pakhnyuk

Luscombe

2016

Polym J

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The field of stretchable electronics has recently gained significant interest from the academic community, with a focus on producing materials that demonstrate reliable electrical performance with improved response to mechanical deformation. This review highlights the recent progress in understanding the relationships between the mechanical behavior and electrical performance of such devices. Potential solutions can take the form of intrinsically elastic polymers, polymer semiconductor/ elastomer blends and alternative engineering-oriented approaches, which are discussed herein. Trends and design strategies are beginning to manifest in this early stage of the stretchable electronics field. The development of stretchable electrical systems can provide unique applications of organic electronics.

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“…3, then within the 30 min annealing time (Leman et al 23 report crystallization of PCBM within a similar PCBM/P3HT bilayer, but with the PCBM layer on top, annealed at 160°C for 10 min). Given the strong temperature dependence of the crystallization of PCBM between 140 and 170°C, 34 and the high levels of crystalline material in spin-coated P3HT, 31,34,35 the similar SLD profiles are what one would expect in a system where there is rapid diffusion of PCBM into the amorphous P3HT regions, with little change in the fraction of amorphous P3HT and little influence of any PCBM crystallization that may occur at 170°C, during this rapid diffusion process. A similar lack of sensitivity to annealing temperature is found for PCBM/PS bilayers, but for a completely different reason.…”

Section: à2mentioning

confidence: 69%

“…The situation is very different for regioregular P3HT/PCBM, as the as-cast polymer film contains extensive crystalline regions (see Supplementary Material Fig. S1 and previous studies 31,34,35 ).…”

Section: à2mentioning

confidence: 93%

Mixing in PCBM/P3HT bilayers, using in situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity

et al. 2017

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In situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity is used to characterize annealed regioregular-P3HT/PCBM bilayers. In situ annealing of a 20 nm PCBM/35 nm P3HT bilayer at 170°C reveals rapid mixing of PCBM and P3HT to produce a polymer-rich layer that contains around 18-20% PCBM. Samples with three different thicknesses of P3HT layer are ex situ annealed at 140°C. This again reveals migration of PCBM into the P3HT and vice versa, with the polymer-rich layer in the 20 nm PCBM/ 35 nm P3HT sample containing 19% PCBM. Complete migration of the entire PCBM layer into the P3HT layer is observed for a 20 nm PCBM/80 nm P3HT bilayer. The robustness of fitted model composition profiles, in comparison with real-space imaging of sample surface morphology and previous work on annealed P3HT/PCBM bilayer compositions, is discussed in detail.

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A Phase Diagram of the P3HT:PCBM Organic Photovoltaic System: Implications for Device Processing and Performance

Cited by 109 publications

References 36 publications

Morphology Development in Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Photovoltaic Blend Films During Solution Casting

Morphology Development in Amorphous Polymer:Fullerene Photovoltaic Blend Films During Solution Casting

Structure and design of polymers for durable, stretchable organic electronics

Mixing in PCBM/P3HT bilayers, using in situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity

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