Manipulating regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) : [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blends—route towards high efficiency polymer solar cells

Li, Gang; Shrotriya, Vishal; Yao, Yan; Huang, Jinsong; Yang, Yang

doi:10.1039/b703075b

Cited by 366 publications

(316 citation statements)

References 83 publications

(82 reference statements)

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“…Different approaches have been suggested for the optimization of the morphology, such as thermal annealing [5,6,[13][14][15], solvent annealing [16], electric field treatment [17], the use of various solvent additives, e.g., alkanedithiols [18], 1-chloronaphthalene [19], 1,8-diiodooctane [20], and nitrobenzene [21], or the use of different solvents [22,23] to lead to a molecular 2 rearrangement of the spin-coated film. Thermal annealing has been shown to be a critical step in the fabrication of P3HT/PCBM solar cells [24]. In most cases to find the optimal annealing time and temperature requires many devices with many annealing conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

et al. 2012

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This paper presents a detailed study on the role of various annealing treatments on organic poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester blends under different experimental conditions. A combination of analytical tools is used to study the alteration of the phase separation, structure and photovoltaic properties of the P3HT:PCBM blend during the annealing process. Results showed that the thermal annealing yields PCBM ''needle-like'' crystals and that prolonged heat treatment leads to extensive phase separation, as demonstrated by the growth in the size and quantity of PCBM crystals. The substrate annealing method demonstrated an optimal morphology by eradicating and suppressing the formation of fullerene clusters across the film, resulting in longer P3HT fibrils with smaller diameter. Improved optical constants, PL quenching and a decrease in the P3HT optical bad-gap were demonstrated for the substrate annealed films due to the limited diffusion of the PCBM molecules. An effective strategy for determining an optimized morphology through substrate annealing treatment is therefore revealed for improved device efficiency. IntroductionOrganic photovoltaic (OPV) solar cells have attracted significant attention due to their great potential for large-area, light-weight, flexible, and low-cost devices [1][2][3][4]. Recently, OPV research has been dominated by the poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6]-phenyl C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT: PCBM) blend reaching power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 5-7 % [5,6]. Most recently a record PCE of about 8.13 and 8.5 % has been reported [7, 8]. Despite recent achievements, improvement in PCEs, stability and lifetime of the devices are necessary before organic solar cells become commercially viable [9][10][11]. The PCE of the solar cells based on the P3HT/fullerene system depends strongly on the processing conditions [12] and can be improved by increasing the crystalline content of the P3HT. Different approaches have been suggested for the optimization of the morphology, such as thermal annealing [5,6,[13][14][15]

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

et al. 2012

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“…Organic solar cells, based on poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) in combination with a fullerene derivative, [6,6]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), have been intensively investigated to show high conversion efficiency of around 5% [1][2][3][4][5]. High device performance in such a blend system is considered to be achieved by suitable phase-separated morphology, known as bulk heterojunction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram of block copolymers showed glass transition of PS block and melting/crystallization of P3HT block, suggesting a microphase separated structure, which was also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and UV-vis absorption spectra. The annealing effect on the morphology of the composite films consisting of 6]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was investigated. Photovoltaic cells fabricated using P3HT-b-PS and PCBM were evaluated.…”

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Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-Polystyrene for Photovoltaic Application

Tan

Tsuchiya

et al. 2011

Polymers

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Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-block-polystyrene (P3HT-b-PS) was synthesized by Suzuki coupling reaction between P3HT and PS, prepared by Grignard metathesis polymerization and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), respectively. The formation of block copolymer was confirmed by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and NMR. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) thermogram of block copolymers showed glass transition of PS block and melting/crystallization of P3HT block, suggesting a microphase separated structure, which was also confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM) images and UV-vis absorption spectra. The annealing effect on the morphology of the composite films consisting of 6]-phenyl-C 61 -butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) was investigated. Photovoltaic cells fabricated using P3HT-b-PS and PCBM were evaluated.

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“…Three absorption peaks located at 519, 555, and 603 nm can be seen and are similar to the spectral features frequently observed in rr-P3HT thin films. [42,43] The P3HT absorption peaks are known to be related to the vibronic splitting of the p-p* transition, and their amplitude ratio has been correlated before to the degree of polymer ordering. Their presence in the absorption spectra reflects a significant degree of structural ordering, which increases upon annealing, even for relatively high fullerene volume fractions (up to 36%).…”

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A New Supramolecular Route for Using Rod‐Coil Block Copolymers in Photovoltaic Applications

et al. 2010

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International audienceA new polymer blend formed by poly(3-hexylthiophene)-poly(4-vinylpyridine) (P3HT-P4VP) block copolymers and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) is reported. The P4VP and PCBM are mixed together by weak supramolecular interactions, and the resulting materials exhibit microphase separated morphologies of electron-donor and electron-acceptor rich domains. The properties of the blend, used in photovoltaic devices as active layers, are also discussed

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Manipulating regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) : [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blends—route towards high efficiency polymer solar cells

Cited by 366 publications

References 83 publications

Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

Synthesis and Characterization of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-b-Polystyrene for Photovoltaic Application

A New Supramolecular Route for Using Rod‐Coil Block Copolymers in Photovoltaic Applications

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