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Title: Graphene composite for improvement in the conversion efficiency of flexible poly 3-hexyl-thiophene:[6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester polymer solar cells

Abstract

The solution of thin graphene-sheets obtained from a simple ultrasonic exfoliation process was found to chemically interact with [6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) molecules. The thinner graphene-sheets have significantly altered the positions of highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PCBM, which is beneficial for the enhancement of the open circuit voltage of the solar cells. Flexible bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated using poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT):PCBM-graphene exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 2.51%, which is a ∼2-fold increase as compared to those fabricated using P3HT:PCBM. Inclusion of graphene-sheets not only improved the open-circuit voltage but also enhanced the short-circuit current density owing to an improved electron transport.

Authors:
; ; ; ; ; ;  [1]
  1. Technical Physics Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai-400085 (India)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22267800
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Applied Physics Letters
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 104; Journal Issue: 13; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; BUTYRIC ACID; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ESTERS; FABRICATION; FLEXIBILITY; GRAPHENE; HETEROJUNCTIONS; MOLECULAR ORBITAL METHOD; POLYCYCLIC SULFUR HETEROCYCLES; SOLAR CELLS; SOLUTIONS

Citation Formats

Chauhan, A. K., E-mail: akchau@barc.gov.in, E-mail: akc.barc@gmail.com, Gusain, Abhay, Jha, P., Koiry, S. P., Saxena, Vibha, Veerender, P., Aswal, D. K., and Gupta, S. K. Graphene composite for improvement in the conversion efficiency of flexible poly 3-hexyl-thiophene:[6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester polymer solar cells. United States: N. p., 2014. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4869635.
Chauhan, A. K., E-mail: akchau@barc.gov.in, E-mail: akc.barc@gmail.com, Gusain, Abhay, Jha, P., Koiry, S. P., Saxena, Vibha, Veerender, P., Aswal, D. K., & Gupta, S. K. Graphene composite for improvement in the conversion efficiency of flexible poly 3-hexyl-thiophene:[6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester polymer solar cells. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4869635
Chauhan, A. K., E-mail: akchau@barc.gov.in, E-mail: akc.barc@gmail.com, Gusain, Abhay, Jha, P., Koiry, S. P., Saxena, Vibha, Veerender, P., Aswal, D. K., and Gupta, S. K. 2014. "Graphene composite for improvement in the conversion efficiency of flexible poly 3-hexyl-thiophene:[6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester polymer solar cells". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4869635.
@article{osti_22267800,
title = {Graphene composite for improvement in the conversion efficiency of flexible poly 3-hexyl-thiophene:[6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester polymer solar cells},
author = {Chauhan, A. K., E-mail: akchau@barc.gov.in, E-mail: akc.barc@gmail.com and Gusain, Abhay and Jha, P. and Koiry, S. P. and Saxena, Vibha and Veerender, P. and Aswal, D. K. and Gupta, S. K.},
abstractNote = {The solution of thin graphene-sheets obtained from a simple ultrasonic exfoliation process was found to chemically interact with [6,6]-phenyl C{sub 71} butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) molecules. The thinner graphene-sheets have significantly altered the positions of highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of PCBM, which is beneficial for the enhancement of the open circuit voltage of the solar cells. Flexible bulk heterojunction solar cells fabricated using poly 3-hexylthiophene (P3HT):PCBM-graphene exhibited a power conversion efficiency of 2.51%, which is a ∼2-fold increase as compared to those fabricated using P3HT:PCBM. Inclusion of graphene-sheets not only improved the open-circuit voltage but also enhanced the short-circuit current density owing to an improved electron transport.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4869635},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22267800}, journal = {Applied Physics Letters},
issn = {0003-6951},
number = 13,
volume = 104,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Mon Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}