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Title: Quantitative Phase Fraction Detection in Organic Photovoltaic Materials through EELS Imaging

Journal Article · · Polymers
DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/polym7111523· OSTI ID:1261486
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States)
  2. Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
  3. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN (United States); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Organic photovoltaic materials have recently seen intense interest from the research community. Improvements in device performance are occurring at an impressive rate; however, visualization of the active layer phase separation still remains a challenge. Our paper outlines the application of two electron energy-loss spectroscopic (EELS) imaging techniques that can complement and enhance current phase detection techniques. Specifically, the bulk plasmon peak position, often used to produce contrast between phases in energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EFTEM), is quantitatively mapped across a sample cross section. One complementary spectrum image capturing the carbon and sulfur core loss edges is compared with the plasmon peak map and found to agree quite well, indicating that carbon and sulfur density differences between the two phases also allows phase discrimination. Additionally, an analytical technique for determining absolute atomic areal density is used to produce an absolute carbon and sulfur areal density map. We also show how these maps may be re-interpreted as a phase ratio map, giving quantitative information about the purity of the phases within the junction.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS); Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Spallation Neutron Source (SNS)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC05-00OR22725
OSTI ID:
1261486
Journal Information:
Polymers, Vol. 7, Issue 12; ISSN 2073-4360
Publisher:
MDPICopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Water-Processable Amphiphilic Low Band Gap Block Copolymer:Fullerene Blend Nanoparticles as Alternative Sustainable Approach for Organic Solar Cells journal February 2018
High-Throughput Multiparametric Screening of Solution Processed Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells journal February 2018
Low-Temperature Processable High-Performance D-A-Type Random Copolymers for Nonfullerene Polymer Solar Cells and Application to Flexible Devices journal September 2018
Deconstructing the behavior of donor–acceptor copolymers in solution & the melt: the case of PTB7 journal January 2019
Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM): an easy way to characterize morphologies of P3HT:PCBM coated and printed solar cells journal July 2019