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

Journal Article · Wed Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2010 · Nano Letters

OSTI ID:972658

Cates, N C

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 Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76SF00515
• OSTI ID: 972658
• Report Number(s): SLAC-REPRINT-2010-033; TRN: US201005%%231
• Journal Information: Nano Letters, Vol. 9, Issue 12
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
ABSORPTION
DESIGN
FULLERENES
HETEROJUNCTIONS
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOLUMINESCENCE
POLYMERS
QUENCHING
SOLAR CELLS
TUNING
MATSCI