Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy
Abstract
Organic photovoltaic systems comprising donor polymers and acceptor fullerene derivatives are attractive for inexpensive energy harvesting. Extensive research on polymer solar cells has provided insight into the factors governing device-level efficiency and stability. However, the detailed investigation of nanoscale structures is still challenging. Here we demonstrate the analysis and modification of unidentified surface aggregates. The aggregates are characterized electrically by Kelvin probe force microscopy and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM), whereby the correlation between local electrical potential and current confirms a defective charge transport. Bimodal AFM modification confirms that the aggregates exist on top of the solar cell structure, and is used to remove them and to reveal the underlying active layer. The systematic analysis of the surface aggregates suggests that the structure consists of PCBM molecules.
- Authors:
-
- George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- George Washington Univ., Washington, DC (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1367086
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0011912
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 8; Journal ID: ISSN 2190-4286
- Publisher:
- Beilstein Institute
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY; conductive atomic force microscopy; Kelvin probe force microscopy; multifrequency AFM; organic photovoltaics; polymer solar cells; surface defects
Citation Formats
Noh, Hanaul, Diaz, Alfredo J., and Solares, Santiago D. Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.3762/bjnano.8.62.
Noh, Hanaul, Diaz, Alfredo J., & Solares, Santiago D. Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy. United States. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.8.62
Noh, Hanaul, Diaz, Alfredo J., and Solares, Santiago D. Wed .
"Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy". United States. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjnano.8.62. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1367086.
@article{osti_1367086,
title = {Analysis and modification of defective surface aggregates on PCDTBT:PCBM solar cell blends using combined Kelvin probe, conductive and bimodal atomic force microscopy},
author = {Noh, Hanaul and Diaz, Alfredo J. and Solares, Santiago D.},
abstractNote = {Organic photovoltaic systems comprising donor polymers and acceptor fullerene derivatives are attractive for inexpensive energy harvesting. Extensive research on polymer solar cells has provided insight into the factors governing device-level efficiency and stability. However, the detailed investigation of nanoscale structures is still challenging. Here we demonstrate the analysis and modification of unidentified surface aggregates. The aggregates are characterized electrically by Kelvin probe force microscopy and conductive atomic force microscopy (C-AFM), whereby the correlation between local electrical potential and current confirms a defective charge transport. Bimodal AFM modification confirms that the aggregates exist on top of the solar cell structure, and is used to remove them and to reveal the underlying active layer. The systematic analysis of the surface aggregates suggests that the structure consists of PCBM molecules.},
doi = {10.3762/bjnano.8.62},
journal = {Beilstein Journal of Nanotechnology},
number = ,
volume = 8,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Mar 08 00:00:00 EST 2017},
month = {Wed Mar 08 00:00:00 EST 2017}
}
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