Next generation solar cells such as for example organic solar cells are an interesting alternative to conventional silicon based solar cells as they feature new possibilities introduced by using a different class of materials namely polymers. Instead of expensive ultra-high vacuum technologies, fabrication can be done at room temperature, using wet chemical processing, and thereby enabling usage of methods such as roll-to-roll printing. As a consequence, the production of organic solar cells has the potential to become very cheap and easy. Moreover, the use of polymers allows for flexible solar cells and light weight devices, which will be usable in a very different fashion as compared to the immobile silicon solar panels. In addition, the energy payback times of organic solar cells are significantly shorter as compared to the today’s silicon solar cells. However, despite all these significant advantages of organic solar cells, still fundamental knowledge is very limited.<br/>In particular, it is challenging to detect the complex morphologies, which are necessary to have high efficiency organic solar cells. The combination of grazing incidence small and wide angle x-ray and neutron scattering (GISAXS, GISANS and GIWAXS) allows for overcoming these challenges. Selected examples will be shown to illustrate the possibilities arising from using the advanced scattering techniques in particular highlighting the use of GISANS.<br/>

Next-generation solar cells studied with GISANS

2019 Spring National Meeting

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.