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Effects of pressure on nano- and micro-scale morphological changes in conjugated polymer photovoltaic cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 September 2016

Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour ,
Egidius Rutatisbwa Rwenyagila ,
Joseph Asare ,
Martiale Gaetan Zebaze Kana  and
Winston O. Soboyejo
Benjamin Agyei-Tuffour
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Nigeria; and Department of Materials Science and Engineering, School of Engineering Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon-Accra, Ghana
Egidius Rutatisbwa Rwenyagila
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Nigeria
Joseph Asare
Affiliation:
Department of Theoretical and Applied Physics, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Nigeria
Martiale Gaetan Zebaze Kana
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Kwara State University, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria
Winston O. Soboyejo*
Affiliation:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, African University of Science and Technology, Abuja, Nigeria; and Princeton Institute of Materials Technology (PRISM), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
*
a) Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: soboyejo@princeton.edu
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Abstract

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of the effects of pressure on polymer chain alignments in poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) blends that are used in bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). The P3HT:PCBM blends on glass were subjected to pressure and annealing at 140 °C. The surface morphologies, nano-/micro-structures and the chain alignments were analyzed using atomic force microscopy techniques and grazing incidence x-ray scattering. The current–voltage characteristics of the resulting devices are also shown to change significantly with changes in the nano-/micro-structures. The polymer chains were aligned in the direction of the applied pressure (edge-on), which reduced the lamellae spacing between the polymer units and increased the degree of crystallinity. The increased crystallinity plays significant role in the current–voltage enhancements. The implications of the study are discussed for the design and control of the nano/microstructures of bulk heterojunction organic solar cells.

Keywords

pressure effectsx-ray scatteringphotoluminescencepolymer chain alignment
Type
Article
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 31 , Issue 20 , 28 October 2016 , pp. 3187 - 3195
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Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2016 

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References

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