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

Abstract

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.

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
+ Show Author Affiliations
  1. Stony Brook Univ., NY (United States). Dept. of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering
  2. Argonne National Lab. (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States). X-ray Science Division
  3. Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL), Upton, NY (United States). Center for Functional Nanomaterials (CFN)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1467440
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1456288
Grant/Contract Number:  
AC02-06CH11357; SC0012704
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Advanced Energy Materials
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 5; Journal Issue: 15
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
25 ENERGY STORAGE; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; low bandgap polymer solar cells; ternary blends; polymer additives; interfacial tension; crystallinity

Citation Formats

Yang, Zhenhua, Guo, Yichen, Li, Hongfei, Zhou, Yuchen, Zuo, Xianghao, Yu, Yingjie, Pan, Cheng, Strzalka, Joseph, Nam, Chang-Yong, and Rafailovich, Miriam H. Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives. United States: N. p., 2018. Web. doi:10.1002/admi.201800435.
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Yang, Zhenhua, Guo, Yichen, Li, Hongfei, Zhou, Yuchen, Zuo, Xianghao, Yu, Yingjie, Pan, Cheng, Strzalka, Joseph, Nam, Chang-Yong, & Rafailovich, Miriam H. Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201800435
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Yang, Zhenhua, Guo, Yichen, Li, Hongfei, Zhou, Yuchen, Zuo, Xianghao, Yu, Yingjie, Pan, Cheng, Strzalka, Joseph, Nam, Chang-Yong, and Rafailovich, Miriam H. Thu . "Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201800435. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1467440.
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@article{osti_1467440,
title = {Roles of Interfacial Tension in Regulating Internal Organization of Low Bandgap Polymer Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells by Polymer Additives},
author = {Yang, Zhenhua and Guo, Yichen and Li, Hongfei and Zhou, Yuchen and Zuo, Xianghao and Yu, Yingjie and Pan, Cheng and Strzalka, Joseph and Nam, Chang-Yong and Rafailovich, Miriam H.},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1002/admi.201800435},
journal = {Advanced Energy Materials},
number = 15,
volume = 5,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2018},
month = {Thu Aug 09 00:00:00 EDT 2018}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1002/admi.201800435
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