Correlation of polymeric compatibilizer structure to its impact on the morphology and function of P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunctions

Journal Article · Mon Feb 25 04:00:00 EST 2013 · Journal of Materials Chemistry. A

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ta10386b· OSTI ID:1073693

Chen, Huipeng ^[1]; Chen, Jihua ^[2]; Yin, Wen ^[1]; Yu, Xiang ^[3]; Shao, Ming ^[2]; Xiao, Kai ^[2]; Hong, Kunlun ^[2]; Pickel, Deanna L. ^[2]; Kochemba, W. Michael ^[1]; Kilbey II, S. Michael ^[4]; Dadmun, Mark ^[5]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS)
3. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division
4. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemistry; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Science (CNMS)
5. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States). Dept. of Chemistry; Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Chemical Sciences Division

Here we present the impact of various polymeric compatibilizers, including end-functionalized P3HTs and diblock copolymers containing P3HT, on the structure and function of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bulk heterojunctions. Careful analyses of small angle neutron scattering curves provide a measure of the miscibility of PCBM in P3HT, the average PCBM domain size, and the interfacial area between PCBM and the P3HT-rich phase in the uncompatibilized and compatibilized systems. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) also provides information regarding the changes in the crystallinity of P3HT due to the presence of the compatibilizer. Results show that most compatibilizers cause the domain sizes to decrease and the P3HT crystallinity to increase; however, some cause an increase in domain size, suggesting that they are not effective interfacial modifiers. The correlation of morphology with photovoltaic activity shows that the decreased domain size, increased crystallinity and increased interfacial area do not always result in improved power conversion efficiency (PCE). It appears that the introduction of an insulating molecule at the PCBM:P3HT interface as a compatibilizer results in a decrease in PCE. Thus, the presence of the compatibilizer at this interface dominates the photovoltaic activity, rather than the morphological control.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1073693
• Journal Information: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A, Journal Name: Journal of Materials Chemistry. A Journal Issue: 17 Vol. 1; ISSN JMCAET; ISSN 2050-7488
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE