title: Tuning Fullerene Intercalation in a Poly (thiophene) derivative by Controlling the Polymer Degree of Self-Organisation.
abstract: Controlling the nanoscale arrangement in polymer-fullerene organic solar cells is of paramount importance to boost the performance of such promising class of photovoltaic diodes. In this work, we use a pseudo-bilayer system made of poly(2,5-bis(3-hexadecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (PBTTT) and [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), to acquire a more complete understanding of the diffusion and intercalation of the fullerene-derivative within the polymer layer. By exploiting morphological and structural characterisation techniques, we observe that if we increase the film solidification time the polymer develops a higher crystalline order, and, as a result, it does not allow fullerene molecules to intercalate between the polymer side-chains. Gaining insight into the detailed fullerene intercalation mechanism is important for the development of organic photovoltaic diodes (PVDs).
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Paternò
authors.affiliation: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK.
authors.forename: M W A
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Skoda
authors.affiliation: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dalgliesh
authors.affiliation: London Centre for Nanotechnology, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cacialli
authors.affiliation: ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK.
authors.forename: V García
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Sakai