title: Optimization of the bulk heterojunction composition for enhanced photovoltaic properties: correlation between the molecular weight of the semiconducting polymer and device performance.
abstract: Herein we propose an approach toward the optimization of the photovoltaic performance of bulk heterojunctions by tuning the composition of the active layer with respect to the molecular weight of the semiconducting polymer. We used a poly(3-hexylthiophene):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) blend as a typical system and varied the molecular weight of the P3HT semiconducting polymer in order to determine its influence on the bulk heterojunction morphology as well as on the optoelectronic characteristics of the device. We have systematically mapped out the phase diagram for different molecular weight P3HTs blended with PCBM and observed the presence of a eutectic composition, which shifts to higher content of P3HT for lower molecular weight P3HTs. This shift inherent to the P3HT molecular weight is also apparent in the photovoltaic performance as the eutectic composition corresponds to the best of the photovoltaic properties. The P3HT molecular weight dependence of the eutectic composition is due to the molecular weight dependence of the P3HT crystallization behavior, which leads to dramatic morphological changes of the bulk heterojunction.
authors.affiliation: Université de Bordeaux , Laboratoire de Chimie des Polymères Organiques, IPB/ENSCBP, Pessac, France.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nicolet
authors.forename: Dargie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deribew
authors.forename: Cedric
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Renaud
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fleury
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brochon
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cloutet
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vignau
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wantz
authors.forename: Henri
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cramail
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Geoghegan
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hadziioannou