Dependence on material choice of degradation of organic solar cells following exposure to humid air.
Electron microscopy has been used to study the degradation of organic solar cells when exposed to humid air. Devices with various different combinations of commonly used organic solar cell hole transport layers and cathode materials have been investigated. In this way the ingress of water and the effect it has on devices could be studied. It was found that calcium and aluminum in the cathode both react with water, causing voids and delamination within the device. The use of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) was found to increase the degradation by easing water ingress into the device. Replacing these materials removed these degradation features. © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part B: Polymer Physics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016, 54, 216-224.
Cavendish Laboratory University of Cambridge J J Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0HE United Kingdom.
Tom S
TS
Glen
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building University of Sheffield Hounsfield Road Sheffield S3 7RH United Kingdom.
Nicholas W
NW
Scarratt
Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HF United Kingdom.
Hunan
H
Yi
Department of Chemistry, Dainton Building University of Sheffield Brook Hill Sheffield S3 7HF United Kingdom.
Ahmed
A
Iraqi
School of Materials Science and Engineering Wuhan University of Technology Wuhan 430070 China.
Tao
T
Wang
Kroto Innovation Centre Ossila Limited Broad Lane Sheffield S3 7HQ United Kingdom.
James
J
Kingsley
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building University of Sheffield Hounsfield Road Sheffield S3 7RH United Kingdom.
Alastair R
AR
Buckley
Department of Physics and Astronomy, Hicks Building University of Sheffield Hounsfield Road Sheffield S3 7RH United Kingdom.
David G
DG
Lidzey
Cavendish Laboratory University of Cambridge J J Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0HE United Kingdom.
Athene M
AM
Donald
TEM; degradation; humidity; organic photovoltaics; water