Tuning the properties of polymer bulk heterojunction solar cells by adjusting fullerene size to control intercalation.
We demonstrate that intercalation of fullerene derivatives between the side chains of conjugated polymers can be controlled by adjusting the fullerene size and compare the properties of intercalated and nonintercalated poly(2,5-bis(3-hexadecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (pBTTT):fullerene blends. The intercalated blends, which exhibit optimal solar-cell performance at 1:4 polymer:fullerene by weight, have better photoluminescence quenching and lower absorption than the nonintercalated blends, which optimize at 1:1. Understanding how intercalation affects performance will enable more effective design of polymer:fullerene solar cells.
Cates
Nichole C
NC
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Gysel
Roman
R
Beiley
Zach
Z
Miller
Chad E
CE
Toney
Michael F
MF
Heeney
Martin
M
McCulloch
Iain
I
McGehee
Michael D
MD
D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D037741:Fullerenes / Q000737:chemistry*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances / Q000737:chemistry; D008422:Materials Testing; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D010316:Particle Size; D012993:Solar Energy; D013499:Surface Properties
D037741:Fullerenes; D046911:Macromolecular Substances