scholarly journals A relatively wide-bandgap and air-stable donor polymer for fabrication of efficient semitransparent and tandem organic photovoltaics

2019 ◽  
Vol 116 (44) ◽  
pp. 22037-22043 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Mahdi Tavakoli ◽  
Riccardo Po ◽  
Gabriele Bianchi ◽  
Alessandra Cominetti ◽  
Chiara Carbonera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Organic Photovoltaics ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Wide Bandgap ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Monolayer Graphene ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) have attracted tremendous attention in the field of thin-film solar cells due to their wide range of applications, especially for semitransparent devices. Here, we synthesize a dithiaindacenone-thiophene-benzothiadiazole-thiophene alternating donor copolymer named poly{[2,7-(5,5-didecyl-5H-1,8-dithia-as-indacenone)]-alt-[5,5-(5′,6′-dioctyloxy-4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)]} (PDTIDTBT), which shows a relatively wide bandgap of 1.82 eV, good mobility, and high transmittance and ambient stability. In this work, we fabricate an OPV device using monolayer graphene as top electrode. Due to the stability of PDTIDTBT in air and water, we use a wet transfer technique for graphene to fabricate semitransparent OPVs. We demonstrate OPVs based on the PDTIDTBT:Phenyl-C61/71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend with maximum power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 6.1 and 4.75% using silver and graphene top electrodes, respectively. Our graphene-based device shows a high average visible transmittance (AVT) of 55%, indicating the potential of PDTIDTBT for window application and tandem devices. Therefore, we also demonstrate tandem devices using the PDTIDTBT:Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) blend in both series and parallel connections with average PCEs of 7.3 and 7.95%, respectively. We also achieve a good average PCE of 8.26% with an average open circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.79 V for 2-terminal tandem OPVs using this blend. Based on tandem design, an OPV with PCE of 6.45% and AVT of 38% is demonstrated. Moreover, our devices show improved shelf life and ultraviolet (UV) stability (using CdSe/ZnS core shell quantum dots [QDs]) in ambient with 45% relative humidity.

Controlling Vertical Morphology within the Active Layer of Organic Photovoltaics Using Poly(3-hexylthiophene) Nanowires and Phenyl-C61-butyric Acid Methyl Ester

ACS Nano ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 3132-3140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew H. Rice ◽  
Rajiv Giridharagopal ◽  
Sam X. Zheng ◽  
Fumio S. Ohuchi ◽  
David S. Ginger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Active Layer ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Organic Photovoltaics ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

scholarly journals Carrier Formation Dynamics of Organic Photovoltaics as Investigated by Time-Resolved Spectroscopy

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kouhei Yonezawa ◽  
Minato Ito ◽  
Hayato Kamioka ◽  
Takeshi Yasuda ◽  
Liyuan Han ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Organic Photovoltaics ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Time Resolved ◽  
Blend Film ◽  
Time Resolved Spectroscopy ◽  
Blend Films ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) based on a donor (D) polymer and an acceptor (A) fullerene derivative is a promising organic photovoltaics (OPV). In order to improve the incident photon-to-current efficiency (IPCE) of the BHJ solar cell, a comprehensive understanding of the ultrafast dynamics of excited species, such as singlet exciton (D*), interfacial charge-transfer (CT) state, and carrier (D+), is indispensable. Here, we performed femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy of two prototypical BHJ blend films: poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/[6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend film and poly(9,9′-dioctylfluorene-co-bithiophene) (F8T2)/[6,6]-phenyl C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM) blend film. We decomposed differential absorption spectra into fast, slow, and constant components via two-exponential fitting at respective probe photon energies. The decomposition procedure clearly distinguished photoinduced absorptions (PIAs) due to D*, CT, and D+. Based on these assignments, we will compare the charge dynamics between the F8T2/PC70BM and P3HT/PCBM blend films.

Optical Absorption Enhancement in Polymer BHJ thin Film Using Ag Nanostructures: A Simulation Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 556-567
Author(s):  
Asma Khalil ◽  
Zubair Ahmad ◽  
Farid Touati ◽  
Mohamed Masmoudi
Keyword(s):  
Absorption Spectrum ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Organic Solar Cell ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester

Background: The photo-absorption and light trapping through the different layers of the organic solar cell structures are a growing concern now-a-days as it affects dramatically the overall efficiency of the cells. In fact, selecting the right material combination is a key factor in increasing the efficiency in the layers. In addition to good absorption properties, insertion of nanostructures has been proved in recent researches to affect significantly the light trapping inside the organic solar cell. All these factors are determined to expand the absorption spectrum and tailor it to a wider spectrum. Objective: The purpose of this investigation is to explore the consequence of the incorporation of the Ag nanostructures, with different sizes and structures, on the photo absorption of the organic BHJ thin films. Methods: Through a three-dimensional Maxwell solver software, Lumerical FDTD, a simulation and comparison of the optical absorption of the three famous organic materials blends poly(3- hexylthiophene): phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM), poly[N-9″-heptadecanyl-2,7- carbazole-alt-5,5-(4′,7′-di-2-thienyl-2′,1′,3′-benzothiadiazole)]: phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCDTBT:PCBM) and poly[2,6-(4,4-bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b;3,4-b′]dithiophene)-alt- 4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)]: phenyl C71 butyric acid methyl ester (PCDPDTBT:PCBM) has been conducted. Furthermore, FDTD simulation study of the incorporation of nanoparticles structures with different sizes, in different locations and concentrations through a bulk heterojunction organic solar cell structure has also been performed. Results: It has been demonstrated that embedding nanostructures in different locations of the cell, specifically in the active layer and the hole transporting layer had a considerable effect of widening the absorption spectrum and increasing the short circuit current. The effect of incorporation the nanostructures in the active layer has been proved to be greater than in the HTL. Furthermore, the comparison results showed that, PCDTBT:PCBM is no more advantageous over P3HT:PCBM and PCPDTBT:PCBM, and P3HT:PCBM took the lead and showed better performance in terms of absorption spectrum and short circuit current value. Conclusion: This work revealed the significant effect of size, location and concentration of the Ag nanostructures while incorporated in the organic solar cell. In fact, embedding nanostructures in the solar cell widen the absorption spectrum and increases the short circuit current, this result has been proven to be significant only when the nanostructures are inserted in the active layer following specific dimensions and structures.

Sterically controlled azomethine ylide cycloaddition polymerization of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (36) ◽  
pp. 6107-6110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meera Stephen ◽  
Hasina H. Ramanitra ◽  
Hugo Santos Silva ◽  
Simon Dowland ◽  
Didier Bégué ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Thin Films ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Butyric Acid ◽  
Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Azomethine Ylide ◽  
Acid Methyl ◽  
Butyric Acid Methyl Ester ◽  
Solution Processable

PCBM is polymerised using the SACAP route to give solution processable thin films and raised LUMOs.

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