Published in

Elsevier, Organic Electronics, 9(15), p. 2007-2013, 2014

DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2014.05.011

Links

Tools

Export citation

Search in Google Scholar

Enhanced efficiency of organic solar cells by mixed orthogonal solvents

This paper is available in a repository.
This paper is available in a repository.

Full text: Download

Green circle
Preprint: archiving allowed
Orange circle
Postprint: archiving restricted
Red circle
Published version: archiving forbidden
Data provided by SHERPA/RoMEO

Abstract

In this work, the effects of mixed solvents on donor-acceptor vertical phase separation and light absorption was investigated. By using mixed orthogonal solutions of 1,2 o-dichloro-benzene (o-DCB) and dichloromethane (DCM), a PCBM([6,6]-phenyl-C-61-butyric acid methyl ester)-rich top layer was induced in typical poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT): PCBM bulk heterojunction structure. By carefully adjusting the o-DCB: DCM volume ratio, the contact between active layer and the Al cathode was significantly improved due to the precipitation of PCBM on the top surface, which resulting in an electron transport preferable interface between the active layer and cathode. Meanwhile, light absorption was also effectively improved due to the increased crystallinity of polymers under mixed solvents. Overall, the short circuit current was greatly increased, and the efficiency was improved from 3.07% in the control sample to 3.97% by adding 30% DCM. The detailed mechanism of the formation of PCBM-rich layer and enhanced light absorption with o-DCB: DCM solution was expatiated. Our findings suggest a facile spin coating method to fabricate efficient BHJ solar cells, which can pave the way for the large scale application of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) in the future.