scholarly journals Optimizing Polymer Solar Cells Using Non-Halogenated Solvent Blends

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guler Kocak ◽  
Desta Gedefaw ◽  
Mats Andersson
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Device Structure ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Chlorinated Solvent ◽  
Heterojunction Device ◽  
Solvent Blends

More environmentally friendly polymer solar cells were constructed using a conjugated polymer, poly (2,5-thiophene-alt-4,9-bis(2-hexyldecyl)-4,9-dihydrodithieno[3,2-c:3′,2′h][1,5] naphthyridine-5,10-dione, PTNT, as a donor material in combination with PC71BM as an acceptor in a bulk heterojunction device structure. A non-halogenated processing solvent (o-xylene) and solvent additives that are less harmful to the environment such as 1-methoxynaphthalene (MN) and 1-phenylnaphthalene (PN) were used throughout the study as processing solvents. The most widely used halogenated solvent additives (1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) and 1-chloronaphthalene (CN)) were also used for comparison and to understand the effect of the type of solvent additives on the photovoltaic performances. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was employed to investigate the surface morphology of the films prepared in the presence of the various additives. The best-performing polymer solar cells provided a high open-circuit voltage of 0.9 V, an efficient fill factor of around 70%, and a highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of over 6% with the use of the eco-friendlier o-xylene/MN solvent systems. Interestingly, the solvent blend which is less harmful and with low environmental impact gave a 20% rise in PCE as compared to an earlier reported device efficiency that was processed from the chlorinated solvent o-dichlorobenzene (o-DCB).

scholarly journals Combined Ultramicrotomy and Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Structure of a Bulk Heterojunction in Polymer Solar Cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-111
Author(s):  
A. M. Alekseev ◽  
A. Al-Afeef ◽  
G. J. Hedley ◽  
S. S. Kharintsev ◽  
A. E. Efimov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Microscopy Study ◽  
Atomic Force Microscopy Study ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force

SELF-ASSEMBLED Ge-DOTS FOR Si SOLAR CELLS

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (28n29) ◽  
pp. 4347-4351 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. PRESTING ◽  
J. KONLE ◽  
H. KIBBEL
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Open Circuit Voltage ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
3 Dimensional ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Transmission Electron ◽  
P Type

Silicon solar cells with embedded germanium (Ge) layers deposited as 3-dimensional islands in the Stranski-Krastanov growth mode have been grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) to enhance the efficiency of Si thin film solar cells. The Ge-layers increase the infrared absorption in the base of the cell to achieve higher photocurrent which should overcome the loss in the open circuit voltage due to incorporation of a smaller bandgap material in the heterostructure. Up to 75 layers of Ge, each about 8 monolayers (ML) thick, separated by Si-spacer layers (9-18nm) have been deposited at rather elevated temperatures (700°C) on a standard 10Ωcm p-type Si-substrate. Island densities of 1011 cm -2 have been achieved by use of antimony (Sb) as surfactant. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the growth of Ge-islands under variuos growth conditions. Photocurrent measurements exhibit a higher photo-response in the infrared regime but a lower open circuit voltage of the fabricated solar cells compared to a Si-reference cell.

scholarly journals Optimization of solution-processed oligothiophene:fullerene based organic solar cells by using solvent additives

2013 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 680-689 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gisela L Schulz ◽  
Marta Urdanpilleta ◽  
Roland Fitzner ◽  
Eduard Brier ◽  
Elena Mena-Osteritz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Organic Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Solution Processed ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Vacuum Technology ◽  
Atomic Force ◽  
Donor And Acceptor ◽  
Conversion Efficiencies

The optimization of solution-processed organic bulk-heterojunction solar cells with the acceptor-substituted quinquethiophene DCV5T-Bu 4 as donor in conjunction with PC61BM as acceptor is described. Power conversion efficiencies up to 3.0% and external quantum efficiencies up to 40% were obtained through the use of 1-chloronaphthalene as solvent additive in the fabrication of the photovoltaic devices. Furthermore, atomic force microscopy investigations of the photoactive layer gave insight into the distribution of donor and acceptor within the blend. The unique combination of solubility and thermal stability of DCV5T-Bu 4 also allows for fabrication of organic solar cells by vacuum deposition. Thus, we were able to perform a rare comparison of the device characteristics of the solution-processed DCV5T-Bu 4 :PC61BM solar cell with its vacuum-processed DCV5T-Bu 4 :C60 counterpart. Interestingly in this case, the efficiencies of the small-molecule organic solar cells prepared by using solution techniques are approaching those fabricated by using vacuum technology. This result is significant as vacuum-processed devices typically display much better performances in photovoltaic cells.

Electrochemical and atomic force microscopy investigations of the effect of CdS on the local electrical properties of CH3NH3PbI3:CdS perovskite solar cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (46) ◽  
pp. 12112-12120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingxuan Guo ◽  
Fumin Li ◽  
Lanyu Ling ◽  
Chong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Kelvin Probe ◽  
Conductive Atomic Force Microscopy ◽  
Force Microscopy ◽  
Atomic Force

The effect of the incorporated CdS on the local optoelectronic properties of CH3NH3PbI3:CdS bulk heterojunction (BHJ) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are studied using Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), conductive atomic force microscopy (c-AFM) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).

scholarly journals Fabrication of Hybrid Polymer Solar Cells By Inverted Structure Based on P3HT:PCBM Active Layer

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Shobih Shobih ◽  
Rizky Abdillah ◽  
Erlyta Septa Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Sol Gel ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Hybrid Polymer

Hybrid polymer solar cell has privilege than its conventional structure, where it usually has structure of (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Active Layer/Al). In humid environment the PEDOT:PSS will absorb water and hence can easily etch the ITO. Therefore it is necessary to use an alternative method to avoid this drawback and obtain more stable polymer solar cells, namely by using hybrid polymer solar cells structure with an inverted device architecture from the conventional, by reversing the nature of charge collection. In this paper we report the results of the fabrication of inverted bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells based on P3HT:PCBM as active layer, utilizing ZnO interlayer as buffer layer between the ITO and active layer with a stacked structure of ITO/ZnO/P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/Ag. The ZnO interlayer is formed through short route, i.e. by dissolving ZnO nanoparticles powder in chloroform-methanol solvent blend rather than by sol-gel process. Based on the measurement results on electrical characteristics of inverted polymer solar cells under 500 W/m2 illumination and AM 1.5 direct filter at room temperature, cell with annealing process of active layer at 110 °C for 10 minutes results in higher cell performance than without annealing, with an open-circuit voltage of 0.21 volt, a short-circuit current density of 1.33 mA/cm2 , a fill factor of 43.1%, and a power conversion efficiency of 0.22%. The low cell’s performance is caused by very rough surface of ZnO interlayer.

New Physical and Chemical Treatments to Improve the Quantum Efficiency in Polymer Solar Cells

2008 ◽  
Vol 1091 ◽  
Author(s):  
Osamu Yoshikawa ◽  
Taro Sonobe ◽  
Takashi Sagawa ◽  
Susumu Yoshikawa
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Polymer Solar Cells ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Single Mode ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Microwave Treatment ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit

AbstractThe performance of the devices of bulk heterojunction polymer-based solar cells were investigated by using poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and (6,6)-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as light absorption (viz. active) layer, with TiOx as interlayer as follows: ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P3HT-PCBM/TiOx/Al [1] through the treatment of microwave irradiation (single mode of 2.45 GHz, 800 W for 1, 2.5, or 5 min). Such treatments enabled to increase the short-circuit current density Jsc (from 4.53 mA cm−2 to 7.27 mA cm−2) and fill factor FF (from 0.41 to 0.66) of the cell, though the open circuit voltage Voc was decreased (from 0.61 V to 0.57 V) along the irradiation. Absorption spectra of P3HT-PCBM blended film before and after the microwave treatment were observed. Shoulders at 550 nm and 600 nm appeared after the irradiation. This result implies that the microcrystallization of P3HT was slightly promoted through the microwave treatment.

Bulk heterojunction perovskite hybrid solar cells with large fill factor

2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 1245-1255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Wang ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
Pengcheng Du ◽  
Jie Zheng ◽  
Xiong Gong
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Charge Carrier ◽  
Fill Factor ◽  
Bulk Heterojunction ◽  
Hybrid Solar Cells ◽  
Device Structure ◽  
Heterojunction Device ◽  
Carrier Extraction

A bulk heterojunction device structure was developed to address the unbalanced charge carrier extraction efficiencies in perovskite hybrid solar cells.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document