Maximization of the short circuit current, JSC, the open circuit voltage, VOC, and the fill factor (FF) to achieve highest power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in donor/acceptor, polymer/polymer, solar cells is dependent on optimization of variables associated with the active material's chemical and morphological structure.  Control of the nanoscale structure of polythiophene (P3HT)/phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ether (PC61BM) active materials was achieved through use of a novel low temperature processing strategy.  With the use of energy filtered transmission electron microscopy (EF-TEM), electron and X-ray diffraction, together phase contrast, deflection and photocurrent measurements at the nanoscale, we were able to tailor nanoscale morphologies to achieve increases in the JSC by a factor of 1.2 and the PCE by 30%, beyond that using conventional heat treatments for processing.  We also established the connection between structure, the HOMO and LUMO levels and performance, through molecular design and synthesis of new polythiophene based polymers.

Role of nanoscale morphology on the nano= and macro-scale performance of polythiophene based polymer solar cells

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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