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Yu T, He W, Jafari M, Guner T, Li P, Siaj M, Izquierdo R, Sun B, Welch GC, Yurtsever A, Ma D. 3D Nanoscale Morphology Characterization of Ternary Organic Solar Cells. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2100916. [PMID: 35041289 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202100916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is highly desired to develop advanced characterization techniques to explore the 3D nanoscale morphology of the complicated blend film of ternary organic solar cells (OSCs). Here, ternary OSCs are constructed by incorporating the nonfullerene acceptor perylenediimide (PDI)-diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)-PDI and their morphology is characterized in depth to understand the performance variation. In particular, photoinduced force microscopy (PiFM) coupled with infrared laser spectroscopy is conducted to qualitatively study the distribution of donor and acceptors in the blend film by chemical identification and to quantitatively probe the segmentation of domains and the domain size distribution after PDI-DPP-PDI acceptor incorporation by PiFM imaging and data processing. In addition, the energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy with energy loss spectra is utilized to visualize the nanoscale morphology of ultrathin cross-sections in the configuration of the real ternary device for the first time in the field of photovoltaics. These measurements allow to "view" the surface and cross-sectional morphology and provide strong evidence that the PDI-DPP-PDI acceptor can suppress the aggregation of the fullerene molecules and generate the homogenous morphology with a higher-level of the molecularly mixed phase, which can prevent the charge recombination and stabilize the morphology of photoactive layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Yu
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Wanting He
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Maziar Jafari
- Département de Chimie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Tugrul Guner
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Pandeng Li
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Mohamed Siaj
- Département de Chimie, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H2L 2C4, Canada
| | - Ricardo Izquierdo
- Département de Génie Électrique, École de Technologie Supérieure, Montréal, Québec, H3C 1K3, Canada
| | - Baoquan Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials (FUNSOM), Joint International Research Laboratory of Carbon-Based Functional Materials and Devices, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China
| | - Gregory C Welch
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Aycan Yurtsever
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Dongling Ma
- Énergie, Matériaux et Télécommunications, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Varennes, Québec, J3X 1S2, Canada
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Gurney RS, Lidzey DG, Wang T. A review of non-fullerene polymer solar cells: from device physics to morphology control. REPORTS ON PROGRESS IN PHYSICS. PHYSICAL SOCIETY (GREAT BRITAIN) 2019; 82:036601. [PMID: 30731432 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6633/ab0530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The rise in power conversion efficiency of organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices over the last few years has been driven by the emergence of new organic semiconductors and the growing understanding of morphological control at both the molecular and aggregation scales. Non-fullerene OPVs adopting p-type conjugated polymers as the donor and n-type small molecules as the acceptor have exhibited steady progress, outperforming PCBM-based solar cells and reaching efficiencies of over 15% in 2019. This review starts with a refreshed discussion of charge separation, recombination, and V OC loss in non-fullerene OPVs, followed by a review of work undertaken to develop favorable molecular configurations required for high device performance. We summarize several key approaches that have been employed to tune the nanoscale morphology in non-fullerene photovoltaic blends, comparing them (where appropriate) to their PCBM-based counterparts. In particular, we discuss issues ranging from materials chemistry to solution processing and post-treatments, showing how this can lead to enhanced photovoltaic properties. Particular attention is given to the control of molecular configuration through solution processing, which can have a pronounced impact on the structure of the solid-state photoactive layer. Key challenges, including green solvent processing, stability and lifetime, burn-in, and thickness-dependence in non-fullerene OPVs are briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S Gurney
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, People's Republic of China
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Mejías FJR, López-Haro M, Gontard LC, Cala A, Fernández-Aparicio M, Molinillo JMG, Calvino JJ, Macías FA. A Novel Electron Microscopic Characterization of Core/Shell Nanobiostimulator Against Parasitic Plants. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2018; 10:2354-2359. [PMID: 29261284 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b16873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nanoencapsulation has proven to be an efficient route to increase significantly the solubility and bioavailability of organic compounds. This aspect of nanotechnology is illustrated for the case of phthalimide-lactone (PL), a recently synthesized strigolactone mimic whose very limited solubility in water, as a free chemical, precludes its practical use as an agrochemical in the fight against parasitic plants. Pluronic F-127 (P127) nanoparticles functionalized with PL have been synthesized and embedded in a polymeric matrix of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Low-voltage and medium voltage imaging and spectroscopic scanning electron microscopy (S(T)EM) techniques were combined to confirm the synthesis of multicore nanoparticles that were rich in nitrogen, a finding that is due to the successful encapsulation of PL. This PL@P127/PVA nanobiostimulator formulation has an impressive solubility in water, that is, 27 times higher than that of pure phthalimide-lactone. Also critical from the functional point of view, comparative bioassays clearly showed that the intrinsic stimulatory activity of this agrochemical is fully maintained in the nanoencapsulated formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J R Mejías
- Allelopathy Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biomolecules (INBIO), Campus CEIA3, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - Miguel López-Haro
- Nanomaterials and Catalysis Lab, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - Lionel C Gontard
- Nanomaterials and Catalysis Lab, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - Antonio Cala
- Allelopathy Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biomolecules (INBIO), Campus CEIA3, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | | | - José M G Molinillo
- Allelopathy Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biomolecules (INBIO), Campus CEIA3, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - José J Calvino
- Nanomaterials and Catalysis Lab, Department of Inorganic Chemistry, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
| | - Francisco A Macías
- Allelopathy Group, Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Biomolecules (INBIO), Campus CEIA3, School of Science, University of Cádiz , C/República Saharaui, 7, 11510, Puerto Real (Cádiz), Spain
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Yan Y, Liu X, Wang T. Conjugated-Polymer Blends for Organic Photovoltaics: Rational Control of Vertical Stratification for High Performance. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2017; 29:1601674. [PMID: 28195372 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201601674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The photoactive layer of bulk-heterojunction organic solar cells, in a thickness range of tens to hundreds of nanometers, comprises phase-separated electron donors and acceptors after solution casting. The component distribution in the cross-section of these thin films is found to be heterogeneous, with electron donors or acceptors accumulated or depleted near the electrode interfaces. This vertical stratification of the photovoltaic blend influences device metrics through its impact on charge transport and recombination, and consequently plays an important role in determining the power conversion efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Here, different techniques, e.g., surface analysis and sputter-assisted depth-profiling, reflectivity modeling, and 3D imaging, that have been employed to characterize vertical stratification in bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic blends are reviewed. The origins of vertical stratification are summarized, including thermodynamics, kinetics, surface free energy, and selective dissolubility. The impact of correct and wrong vertical stratification to device metrics of solar cells are highlighted. Examples are then given to demonstrate how desired vertical stratification can be controlled with properly aligned device architecture to enable solar cells with high efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Yan
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, and State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
- International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, and State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
- International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Tao Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, and State Key Laboratory of Silicate Materials for Architectures, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
- International School of Materials Science and Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, 430070, China
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Ghosh T, Gopal A, Nagasawa S, Mohan N, Saeki A, Vijayakumar C. Following the TRMC Trail: Optimization of Photovoltaic Efficiency and Structure-Property Correlation of Thiophene Oligomers. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2016; 8:25396-404. [PMID: 27598737 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.6b07508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Semiconducting conjugated oligomers having same end group (N-ethylrhodanine) but different central core (thiophene: OT-T, bithiophene: OT-BT, thienothiophene: OT-TT) connected through thiophene pi-linker (alkylated terthiophene) were synthesized for solution processable bulk-heterojunction solar cells. The effect of the incorporation of an extra thiophene to the central thiophene unit either through C-C bond linkage to form bithiophene or by fusing two thiophenes together to form thienothiophene on the optoelectronic properties and photovoltaic performances of the oligomers were studied in detail. Flash photolysis time-resolved microwave conductivity (FP-TRMC) technique shows OT-TT has significantly higher photoconductivity than OT-T and OT-BT implying that the former can outperform the latter two derivatives by a wide margin under identical conditions in a bulk-heterojunction solar cell device. However, the initial photovoltaic devices fabricated from all three oligomers (with PC71BM as the acceptor) gave power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of about 0.7%, which was counterintuitive to the TRMC observation. By using TRMC results as a guiding tool, solution engineering was carried out; no remarkable changes were seen in the PCE of OT-T and OT-BT. On the other hand, 5-fold enhancement in the device efficiency was achieved in OT-TT (PCE: 3.52%, VOC: 0.80 V, JSC: 8.74 mA cm(-2), FF: 0.50), which was in correlation with the TRMC results. The structure-property correlation and the fundamental reasons for the improvement in device performance upon solvent engineering were deduced through UV-vis absorption, atomic force microscopy, bright-field transmission electron microscopy, photoluminescence quenching analysis and two-dimensional grazing incidence X-ray diffraction studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanwistha Ghosh
- Photosciences and Photonics Section, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) , Trivandrum 695019, Kerala India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) , New Delhi 110 001, India
| | - Anesh Gopal
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University , 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Shinji Nagasawa
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University , 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Nila Mohan
- Photosciences and Photonics Section, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) , Trivandrum 695019, Kerala India
| | - Akinori Saeki
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Osaka University , 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Chakkooth Vijayakumar
- Photosciences and Photonics Section, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST) , Trivandrum 695019, Kerala India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR) , New Delhi 110 001, India
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