Solubility Based Identification of Green Solvents for Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells

Burgues-Ceballos I, Machui F, Min J, Ameri T, Voigt MM, Luponosov YN, Ponomarenko SA, Lacharmoise PD, Campoy-Quiles M, Brabec C (2014)

Publication Language: English

Publication Type: Journal article, Original article

Publication year: 2014

Journal

Advanced Functional Materials Wiley-VCH Verlag

Book Volume: 24

Pages Range: 1449--1457

Volume: 24

Issue: 10

Journal Issue: 10

DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201301509

Abstract

Replacing halogenated solvents in the processing of organic solar cells by green solvents is a required step before the commercialization of this technology. With this purpose, some attempts have been made, although a general method is yet to be developed. Here, the potential of the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP) analysis for the design of green ink formulations for solution-processed active layer in bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices based on small molecules is demonstrated. The motivation of moving towards organic small molecules stems from their lower molecular weight and more definite structure which makes them more likely to be dissolved in a wider variety of organic solvents. In the first step, the HSP of selected active materials are determined, namely, the star-shaped D-π-A tris[4-[5′′-(1,1-dicyanobut-1-en-2-yl)-2,2′-bithiophen-5-yl]pheny]amine N(Ph-2T-DCN-Et)3 small molecule and fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PC70BM). Secondly, computer simulations based on HSP allow the prediction of suitable green solvents for this specific material system. The most promising green solvents, according to the simulations, are then used to fabricate solar cell devices using pristine solvents and two solvents mixtures. These devices show power conversion efficiencies around 3.6\%, which are comparable to those obtained with halogenated solvents. This good performance is a result of the sufficient solubility achieved after a successful prediction of good (green) solvents.

Authors with CRIS profile

Florian Machui Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Jie Min Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Tayebeh Ameri Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) Christoph Brabec Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET)

Additional Organisation(s)

Exzellenz-Cluster Engineering of Advanced Materials

Involved external institutions

Bayerisches Zentrum für Angewandte Energieforschung e.V. (ZAE Bayern) DE Germany (DE) Russian Academy of Sciences / Росси́йская акаде́мия нау́к (RAS) RU Russian Federation (RU) Cetemmsa Technological Centre ES Spain (ES) Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ES Spain (ES)

How to cite

APA:

Burgues-Ceballos, I., Machui, F., Min, J., Ameri, T., Voigt, M.M., Luponosov, Y.N.,... Brabec, C. (2014). Solubility Based Identification of Green Solvents for Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells. Advanced Functional Materials, 24(10), 1449--1457. https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201301509

MLA:

Burgues-Ceballos, Ignasi, et al. "Solubility Based Identification of Green Solvents for Small Molecule Organic Solar Cells." Advanced Functional Materials 24.10 (2014): 1449--1457.

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