Effect of temperature on the morphological and photovoltaic stability of bulk heterojunction polymer:fullerene solar cells

Bertho, Sabine; Janssen, G.; Cleij, Thomas J.; Conings, Bert; Moons, Wouter; Gadisa, Abay; D’Haen, Jan; Goovaerts, E.; Lutsen, Laurence; Manca, Jean; Vanderzande, Dirk

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2008.01.006

Cited by 272 publications

(237 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Devices with different compositions were fabricated and a maximum in efficiency was seen when the PCBM concentration was $80 wt %, mainly due to the significantly increased J sc and fill factor, FF, [see that thermal annealing of the MDMO-PPV:PCBM induced crystallization of PCBM, which will affect the efficiency and stability of the devices. 27,28 These observations directly link the device efficiency to the morphology, clearly demonstrating the necessity of research on the morphology of BHJ OPVs. These initial findings, though, have bearing on the findings that are emerging on the more efficient low bandgap polymers of current interest.…”

Section: Morphology Of Polymer Based Opvsmentioning

confidence: 78%

On the morphology of polymer‐based photovoltaics

Liu

Jung

et al. 2012

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

308

248

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We review the morphologies of polymer-based solar cells and the parameters that govern the evolution of the morphologies and describe different approaches to achieve the optimum morphology for a BHJ OPV. While there are some distinct differences, there are also some commonalities. It is evident that morphology and the control of the morphology are important for device performance and, by controlling the thermodynamics, in particular, the interactions of the components, and by controlling kinetic parameters, like the rate of solvent evaporation, crystallization and phase separation, optimized morphologies for a given system can be achieved. While much research has focused on P3HT, it is evident that a clearer understanding of the morphology and the evolution of the morphology in low bad gap polymer systems will increase the efficiency further. While current OPVs are on the verge of breaking the 10% barrier, manipulating and controlling the morphology will still be key for device optimization and, equally important, for the fabrication of these devices in an industrial setting.

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Section: Morphology Of Polymer Based Opvsmentioning

confidence: 78%

On the morphology of polymer‐based photovoltaics

Liu

Jung

et al. 2012

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

308

248

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…A sample annealed for 100 h at 100 °C served as a reference for an accelerated ageing test because prolonged annealing has previously been shown to provoke phase separation, leading to the formation of PCBM domains up to 100 µm in size [30]. The fluorescence properties of P3HT and PCBM allowed for characterization of spatial variations in the emission [29], so measurements were also performed on pure P3HT and pure PCBM.…”

Section: Analysis Of the Active Layer In The Cell Confined And Unconfmentioning

confidence: 99%

Morphology and photochemical stability of P3HT:PCBM active layers of organic solar cells

Dupuis

Tournebize

Bussière

et al. 2011

Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys.

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We report on the effects of continuous UV-visible light illumination at 60°C in the absence of oxygen on P3HT:PCBM blend films commonly used active layer of bulk heterojunction solar cells. A full description of the behavior of P3HT:PCBM blend films either unconfined or confined by an Al cathode and a PEDOT:PSS layer during annealing treatment and irradiation is provided. We also focused on the impact of the P3HT-type on the photostability. It was shown that the microstructure of P3HT dramatically influenced the photodegradation process of P3HT thin films deposited on inert substrate. The rate of photodegradation process was decreased when P3HT was blended with PCBM. It was shown that the photostability of the 2 active layer was not influenced by a PEDOT-PSS sub-layer. Solar cells were then fabricated from high-regioregular P3HT. Many large PCBM crystals were observed in P3HT:PCBM blend films and it was shown that the top surface of the active layer in contact with the Al cathode was nearly entirely composed of P3HT. Both results account for the low performances of the devices. Finally, photo-ageing experiments provoked a rapid failure of the Al cathodes which was tentatively attributed to an increase of internal strain within the devices.

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“…One of the main reasons for the thermally induced degradation of solar cell performance is the diffusion of fullerene derivatives through the blend film. [11][12][13] Although soluble fullerenes have major advances in a BHJ architecture, the thermal instability of BHJs, due partly to the diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes, must be addressed before one can consider them for practical applications in OPVs. 14 Therefore, a fundamental understanding of the diffusive motion of fullerene derivatives within the blend under heat and light pressure is a key factor to increase the lifetime of OPVs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Derivatization and diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes: Ab initio and atomistic simulations

Berdiyorov

Harrabi

Mehmood

et al. 2015

Journal of Applied Physics

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Using first principles density functional theory in combination with the nonequilibrium Green's function formalism, we study the effect of derivatization on the electronic and transport properties of C60 fullerene. As a typical example, we consider [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), which forms one of the most efficient organic photovoltaic materials in combination with electron donating polymers. Extra peaks are observed in the density of states (DOS) due to the formation of new electronic states localized at/near the attached molecule. Despite such peculiar behavior in the DOS of an isolated molecule, derivatization does not have a pronounced effect on the electronic transport properties of the fullerene molecular junctions. Both C60 and PCBM show the same response to finite voltage biasing with new features in the transmission spectrum due to voltage induced delocalization of some electronic states. We also study the diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes in ethanol solvent and inside poly(3-hexylthiophene) lamella using reactive molecular dynamics simulations. We found that the mobility of the fullerene reduces considerably due to derivatization; the diffusion coefficient of C60 is an order of magnitude larger than the one for PCBM

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Effect of temperature on the morphological and photovoltaic stability of bulk heterojunction polymer:fullerene solar cells

Cited by 272 publications

References 30 publications

On the morphology of polymer‐based photovoltaics

On the morphology of polymer‐based photovoltaics

Morphology and photochemical stability of P3HT:PCBM active layers of organic solar cells

Derivatization and diffusive motion of molecular fullerenes: Ab initio and atomistic simulations

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