The effect of polymer molecular weight on P3HT:PCBM nanoparticulate organic photovoltaic device performance

Holmes, Natalie P.; Ulum, Syahrul; Sista, Prakash; Burke, Kerry B.; Wilson, Mitchell; Stefan, Mihaela C.; Zhou, Xiaojing; Dastoor, Paul C.; Belcher, Warwick J.

doi:10.1016/j.solmat.2014.05.046

Cited by 49 publications

(59 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…A higher PL intensity is observed for the NP-xylene dispersion (Fig. 6c), which was attributed to a higher degree of donor-acceptor material phase separation within the NPs 22,50,58 , suggesting that larger and/or purer polymer domains already existed post NP preparation. Similar to the result found in the PL of the aqueous dispersions, NPxylene film as spun (Fig.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…49 The gross phase separation deteriorated the NP film morphology, which is detrimental for the device performance of NP solar devices. 33,43,50 Thus, precise control over the thermal annealing temperature is crucial to achieve a homogenous active layer in OPVs as well as removing the moisture and avoiding large phase separation. 37 Similar behaviour was also found in the case of NP-xylene films, when annealed at different temperatures ( Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Pan

Sharma

Gedefaw

et al. 2018

Organic Electronics

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Aqueous nanoparticle dispersions were prepared from a conjugated polymer poly(2,5-thiophene-alt-4,9-bis(2-hexyldecyl)-4,9-dihydrodithieno[3,2-c:3',2'-h][1,5]naphthyridine-5,10-dione) (PTNT) and fullerene blend utilizing chloroform as well as a non-chlorinated and environmentally benign solvent, o-xylene, as the miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent. The nanoparticles (NPs) in the solid-state film were found to coalesce and offered a smooth surface topography upon thermal annealing. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with photoactive layer processed from the nanoparticle dispersions prepared using chloroform as the miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent were found to have a power conversion efficiency M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT2 (PCE) of 1.04%, which increased to 1.65% for devices utilizing NPs prepared from o-xylene.Physical, thermal and optical properties of NPs prepared using both chloroform and o-xylene were systematically studied using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and correlated to their photovoltaic properties. The PL results indicate different morphology of NPs in the solid state were achieved by varying miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent.

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Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 95%

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confidence: 99%

Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Pan

Sharma

Gedefaw

et al. 2018

Organic Electronics

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“…In a follow-up paper, Holmes et al demonstrated that polymer molecular weight not only affects film morphology, but also the electronic and compositional structure of the nanoparticulate film. They showed that it is the domain composition that is most highly correlated with device performance and that this composition is driven by the PCBM mobility and aggregation within the nanoparticulate structure [38]. Their work shows that it is possible to generate a range of NP structures with quite small changes in formulation, and their work suggests that a uniform distribution of conjugated polymer and fullerene throughout the NP volume should deliver the best device performance [39].…”

Section: The P3ht:pcbm Npopv Materials Systemmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar Paint: From Synthesis to Printing

2014

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Abstract:Water-based polymer nanoparticle dispersions (solar paint) offer the prospect of addressing two of the main challenges associated with printing large area organic photovoltaic devices; namely, how to control the nanoscale architecture of the active layer and eliminate the need for hazardous organic solvents during device fabrication. In this paper, we review progress in the field of nanoparticulate organic photovoltaic (NPOPV) devices and future prospects for large-scale manufacturing of solar cells based on this technology.

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“…For some years now, in organic photovoltaic devices the optoelectronically active layer has been based on mixtures of the electron donor poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) typically with the electron acceptor phenyl‐C 61 ‐butyric acid methyl ester . The nanostructure and semicrystalline properties of P3HT are now relatively well understood, and their important bearing on the electronic properties are well recognized .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films of low‐bandgap polymers

Braunger

Silva

Awada

et al. 2018

Polymer International

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Low‐bandgap conjugated polymers have provided a considerable increase in organic photovoltaic efficiencies, however, an understanding of class‐specific nanostructures, necessary to further improve device qualities, remains scarce. Their self‐assembly and associated electronic behaviors in Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) films are used here to provide relationships specific to each polymer, clarifying their structure−property characteristics. The behavior of two low‐bandgap polymers based on cyclopentadithiophene (PCPDTBT) and dithienosilole (Si‐PCPDTBT) units in the Langmuir trough were investigated and it is shown that it is possible to fabricate nanostructured films of low‐bandgap polymers on solid substrates with the LB deposition technique. The polymers were mixed with amphiphilic molecules at well‐defined concentrations to improve the formation of the LB films. The polymers were also deposited by drop‐casting and LB techniques onto interdigitated electrodes to evaluate their electrical properties, and the LB films were characterized for their optical and morphological properties. It was found that both LB and drop‐cast films of PCPDTBT showed higher electrical conductivities than those of Si‐PCPDTBT. Importantly, LB films resulted in higher electrical conductivities – by an order of magnitude − compared to their equivalent mixtures with stearic acid in drop‐cast films, although drop‐cast films without stearic acid gave higher conductivities. This fine‐tuning of the molecular architectures of the films is thus demonstrated to directly affect the physical properties and may lead to an improvement in device efficiencies in future applications. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry

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The effect of polymer molecular weight on P3HT:PCBM nanoparticulate organic photovoltaic device performance

Cited by 49 publications

References 43 publications

Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Solar Paint: From Synthesis to Printing

Langmuir and Langmuir–Blodgett films of low‐bandgap polymers

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