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Tuning the properties of polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells by adjusting fullerene size to control intercalation

Journal Article · · Nano Letters
OSTI ID:972658
We demonstrate that intercalation of fullerene derivatives between the side chains of conjugated polymers can be controlled by adjusting the fullerene size and compare the properties of intercalated and nonintercalated poly(2,5-bis(3-hexadecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) (pBTTT):fullerene blends. The intercalated blends, which exhibit optimal solar-cell performance at 1:4 polymer:fullerene by weight, have better photoluminescence quenching and lower absorption than the nonintercalated blends, which optimize at 1:1. Understanding how intercalation affects performance will enable more effective design of polymer:fullerene solar cells.
Research Organization:
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (SLAC)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-76SF00515
OSTI ID:
972658
Report Number(s):
SLAC-REPRINT-2010-033
Journal Information:
Nano Letters, Journal Name: Nano Letters Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 9
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English