Electron barrier formation at the organic-back contact interface is the first step in thermal degradation of polymer solar cells

Sachs-Quintana IT, Heumüller T, Mateker WR, Orozco DE, Cheacharoen R, Sweetnam S, Brabec C, Mcgehee MD (2014)

Publication Language: English

Publication Status: Published

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials Wiley-VCH Verlag

Publisher: Wiley-VCH Verlag

Book Volume: 24

Pages Range: 3978-3985

Journal Issue: 25

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201304166

Abstract

Long-term stability of polymer solar cells is determined by many factors, one of which is thermal stability. Although many thermal stability studies occur far beyond the operating temperature of a solar cell which is almost always less than 65 °C, thermal degradation is studied at temperatures that the solar cell would encounter in real-world operating conditions. At these temperatures, movement of the polymer and fullerenes, along with adhesion of the polymer to the back contact, creates a barrier for electron extraction. The polymer barrier can be removed and the performance can be restored by peeling off the electrode and depositing a new one. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements reveal a larger amount of polymer adhered to electrodes peeled from aged devices than electrodes peeled from fresh devices. The degradation caused by hole-transporting polymer adhering to the electrode can be suppressed by using an inverted device where instead of electrons, holes are extracted at the back metal electrode. The problem can be ultimately eliminated by choosing a polymer with a high glass transition temperature. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thomas Heumüller Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Christoph Brabec Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET)

Involved external institutions

Stanford University US United States (USA) (US)

How to cite

APA:

Sachs-Quintana, I.T., Heumüller, T., Mateker, W.R., Orozco, D.E., Cheacharoen, R., Sweetnam, S.,... Mcgehee, M.D. (2014). Electron barrier formation at the organic-back contact interface is the first step in thermal degradation of polymer solar cells. Advanced Functional Materials, 24(25), 3978-3985. https://dx.doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201304166

MLA:

Sachs-Quintana, I. T., et al. "Electron barrier formation at the organic-back contact interface is the first step in thermal degradation of polymer solar cells." Advanced Functional Materials 24.25 (2014): 3978-3985.

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