Influence of mixed solvent on the morphology of the P3HT:Indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA) blend film and the performance of inverted polymer solar cells

• Published in: Organic electronics Vol. 14; no. 1; pp. 26 - 31
• Main Authors: Lin, Shang-Hong, Lan, Shiang, Sun, Jen-Yu, Lin, Ching-Fuh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Energy; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Fullerenes and related materials; diamonds, graphite; Horizontal phase separation; Indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA); Inverted polymer solar cells; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Materials science; Mixed solvent; Natural energy; Photovoltaic conversion; Physics; Polyvinylcarbazole (PVK); Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Solubility, segregation, and mixing; phase separation; Specific materials; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Mixed solvent; Inverted polymer solar cells; Indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA); Horizontal phase separation; Polyvinylcarbazole (PVK); Performance evaluation; Conversion rate; Phase control; Organic solar cells; Carbazole(vinyl) polymer; Indene-C60 bisadduct(ICBA); Thiophene derivative polymer; Energy conversion; High strength current; New product; Solubility; Active layer; Polymer; Open circuit voltage; Acceptor center; Morphology; Phase separation; Fullerenes; Leakage current; Microstructure; Drying
• ISSN: 1566-1199; 1878-5530
• DOI: 10.1016/j.orgel.2012.10.015

[Display omitted] ► We use mixed solvent DCB and CB to improve the solubility of the active layer. ► We add polymer polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) to reduce the horizontal phase separation. ► The inverted polymer solar cells is improved with open-circuit voltage enhanced from 0.66V to 0.82V and power conversion efficiency enhanced from 2.6% to 4.27%. A new acceptor material, Indene-C60 bisadduct (ICBA), has reportedly improved the open circuit voltage. The published literature has reported that almost all groups dissolve the ICBA and P3HT in DCB. Nevertheless, the solubility of ICBA in DCB is poor, leading to high leakage current and lower open circuit voltage. To enhance the solubility of ICBA in photoactive ink, we use CB and DCB as a mixed solvent to fabricate the inverted polymer solar cells. We then add conductive polymer polyvinylcarbazole (PVK) to reduce the horizontal phase separation and control the drying time of the active layer by adjusting the ratios of DCB and CB. As a result, the open circuit voltage of inverted polymer solar cells is enhanced from 0.66V to 0.82V and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) improve from 2.6% to 4.27%.