Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives

Yang, Zhenhua; Guo, Yichen; Li, Hongfei; Zhou, Yuchen; Zuo, Xianghao; Yu, Yingjie; Pan, Cheng; Strzalka, Joseph; Nam, Chang-Yong; Rafailovich, Miriam H.

doi:10.1002/admi.201800435

Title: Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives

Journal Article · Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201800435· OSTI ID:1467440

Yang, Zhenhua ^[1]; Guo, Yichen ^[1]; Li, Hongfei ^[1]; Zhou, Yuchen ^[1]; Zuo, Xianghao ^[1]; Yu, Yingjie ^[1]; Pan, Cheng ^[1]; Strzalka, Joseph ^[2]; Nam, Chang-Yong ^[3]; Rafailovich, Miriam H. ^[1]

Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). X-ray Science Division
Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)

Abstract The role of a tertiary polymer‐based additive is investigated in increasing the efficiency of inverted low bandgap polymer:fullerene bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells. Charge separation in polymer BHJ solar cells relies on the phase separation between electron accepting fullerene derivatives and photoactive polymers. Proper distribution of individual phases of suitable crystallinities within the active layer is a key factor for efficient charge transport/extraction and high photovoltaic performance. Here, it is demonstrated that the minor addition of a tertiary amorphous polymer, polystyrene (PS), with optimized molecular weights can increase the overall photovoltaic efficiency of poly[ N ‐9′‐heptadecanyl‐2,7‐carbazole‐alt‐5,5‐(4′,7′‐di‐2‐thienyl‐2′,1′,3′‐benzothiadiazole)]:phenyl‐C ₆₁ butyric acid methyl ester (PCDTBT:PCBM) inverted BHJ solar cells, through the interfacial‐tension‐driven increase in crystallinities of photoactive phases and redistribution of PCBM molecules away from the top hole‐collecting anode interface. Complementary studies correlating polymer interfacial tension, blend internal structure, charge transport, and photovoltaic characteristics show that tertiary, high molecular‐weight polymers can serve as effective additives for improving the performance of low bandgap polymer solar cells.

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Research Organization:: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-06CH11357; SC0012704

OSTI ID:: 1467440

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 1456288

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Vol. 5, Issue 15

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 11 works

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36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
low bandgap polymer solar cells
ternary blends
polymer additives
interfacial tension
crystallinity

Title: Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives

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