Dynamics of the sub-ambient gelation and shearing of solutions of P3HT and P3HT blends towards active layer formation in bulk heterojunction organic solar cells

• Published in: Soft matter Vol. 17; no. 6; pp. 1642 - 1654
• Main Authors: Quan, Li, Lee, Stephanie S, Kalyon, Dilhan M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal Society of Chemistry 19.02.2021
• Subjects: Amplitudes; Butyric acid; Coatings; Continuous coating; Continuous extrusion; Crystallization; Differential scanning calorimetry; Energy conversion efficiency; Extrusion coating; Fabrication; Fullerenes; Gelation; Gels; Heterojunctions; Mixtures; Molecular structure; Organic chemistry; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; Polymers; Rheological properties; Rheology; Shear viscosity; Shearing; Solar cells; Spin coating; Viscoelasticity

Organic solar cells (OSCs) containing an active layer consisting of a nanostructured blend of a conjugated polymer like poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and an electron acceptor have the potential of competing against silicon-based photovoltaic panels. However, this potential is largely unfulfilled fir...