Real-Time Study on Structure Formation and the Intercalation Process of Polymer: Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Thin Films

Kassar T, Berlinghof M, Güldal NS, Schmutzler T, Zontone F, Brandl M, Metwalli E, Will J, Li N, Ameri T, Brabec C, Unruh T (2020)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2020

Journal

Solar RRL Wiley-VCH

Book Volume: 4

Pages Range: 1900508

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.1002/solr.201900508

Abstract

Fullerene intercalation between the side chains of conjugated polymers has a detrimental impact on both charge separation and charge transport processes in bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs). In situ grazing incidence X-ray scattering experiments allow to characterize the structure formation, drying kinetics, and intercalation in blends of phenyl-c61-butyric acid methyl ester (PC60BM) and poly(2,5-bis(3-tetradecylthiophen-2-yl)thieno[3,2-b]thiophene) named (pBTTT-C14) from their 1,2-orthodichlorobenzene (oDCB) solutions with different volume fractions of dodecanoic acid methyl ester (Me12) as a solvent additive. The structure formation process during evaporation of the solvent:additive mixture can be described by five periods, which are correlated to a multistep contraction of the lamellar stacking of the bimolecular crystals. The onset of crystallization is delayed by increasing the additive volume fraction in the coating solution leading to a promoted crystallinity. A conclusive picture of fullerene intercalation and additive-tuned structural evolution during the drying of thin films of the polymer:fullerene BHJ blends will be presented.

Authors with CRIS profile

Thaer Kassar Professur für Nanomaterialcharakterisierung (Streumethoden) Marvin Berlinghof Lehrstuhl für Kristallographie und Strukturphysik (ICSP) Nusret Sena Richter Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET) Tilo Schmutzler Professur für Nanomaterialcharakterisierung (Streumethoden) Marco Brandl Lehrstuhl für Kristallographie und Strukturphysik (ICSP) Johannes Will Lehrstuhl für Kristallographie und Strukturphysik (ICSP) Ning Li Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET) Christoph Brabec Institute Materials for Electronics and Energy Technology (i-MEET) (i-MEET) Tobias Unruh Professur für Nanomaterialcharakterisierung (Streumethoden)

Additional Organisation(s)

Interdisziplinäres Zentrum, Center for Nanoanalysis and Electron Microscopy (CENEM) Graduiertenkolleg 1896/2 In situ Mikroskopie mit Elektronen, Röntgenstrahlen und Rastersonden

Involved external institutions

European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) FR France (FR) Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Kassar, T., Berlinghof, M., Güldal, N.S., Schmutzler, T., Zontone, F., Brandl, M.,... Unruh, T. (2020). Real-Time Study on Structure Formation and the Intercalation Process of Polymer: Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Thin Films. Solar RRL, 4(3), 1900508. https://doi.org/10.1002/solr.201900508

MLA:

Kassar, Thaer, et al. "Real-Time Study on Structure Formation and the Intercalation Process of Polymer: Fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Thin Films." Solar RRL 4.3 (2020): 1900508.

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