Influences of thermal annealing on P3HT/PCBM interfacial properties and charge dynamics in polymer solar cells

Year: 2015

Authors: Cheng C.E., Dinelli F., Yu C.T., Shih H.W., Pei Z., Chang C.S., Chien F.S.S.

Autors Affiliation: Department of Photonics and Institute of Electro-Optical Engineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan.
Department of Applied Physics, Tunghai University, Taichung 40704, Taiwan.
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Pisa I-56124, Italy.
Graduate Institute of Optoelectronic Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering, National Chung Hsin University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.

Abstract: The effects of thermal annealing on the interfacial properties of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C-61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and on the charge dynamics in P3HT: PCBM polymer solar cells (PSCs) are investigated. This study determines that an effective phase separation of the P3HT and PCBM caused by thermal annealing achieves a larger interfacial area for efficient exciton dissociation and a well-defined pn junction with few defect levels at the P3HT/PCBM interface. Additionally, thermal annealing creates a compositional gradient across the P3HT: PCBM films, which enhances the charge transit ability significantly. These improved interfacial properties and efficiency in charge transit ability account for the better power conversion efficiency of P3HT: PCBM PSCs treated with thermal annealing. (C) 2015 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Journal/Review: JAPANESE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS

Volume: 54 (12)      Pages from: 122301-1  to: 122301-6

More Information: This work is supported by Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (MOST 102-2112-M-029-005-MY3) and National Chiao Tung University (2013 NCTU Short-term Research Program Scholarship). The authors would like to appreciate Dr. P. Pinque of NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore for his kindly assistance.
KeyWords: VERTICAL PHASE-SEPARATION; EFFICIENCY; FILMS; MORPHOLOGY; POLY(3-HEXYLTHIOPHENE); PERFORMANCE; IMPEDANCE; BLENDS; LAYER
DOI: 10.7567/JJAP.54.122301

Citations: 9
data from “WEB OF SCIENCE” (of Thomson Reuters) are update at: 2024-03-24
References taken from IsiWeb of Knowledge: (subscribers only)
Connecting to view paper tab on IsiWeb: Click here
Connecting to view citations from IsiWeb: Click here