Issue 43, 2020

Charge generation mechanism tuned via film morphology in small molecule bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic materials

Abstract

Small organic molecules have emerged as promising component materials for organic photovoltaic devices. Compared to most conjugated polymers for the same application, small molecules have unique morphologies that promote electronic processes relevant to organic solar cell (OSC) function that can be significantly different from those of conjugated polymeric materials. Here we investigate constituent loading-dependent effects on OSC morphology and function using the classical fullerene acceptor, PC61BM, in a heterojunction blend with the small molecule donor, NDT (thiophene-capped diketopyrrolopyrrole naphthodithiophene). The evolution of active layer morphology as well as exciton speciation and dynamics as a function of the PC61BM content are examined in combined structural studies using GIWAXS and spectroscopic studies using transient absorption spectroscopy. We observe evidence for three types of coexisting excitons and details of the interplay between them determines the yield of charge separated states that afford sustained device efficiency.

Graphical abstract: Charge generation mechanism tuned via film morphology in small molecule bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic materials

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 jul 2020
Accepted
12 aug 2020
First published
12 aug 2020

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020,8, 15234-15252

Author version available

Charge generation mechanism tuned via film morphology in small molecule bulk-heterojunction photovoltaic materials

S. J. Lou, S. Loser, K. A. Luck, N. Zhou, M. J. Leonardi, A. Timalsina, E. F. Manley, D. Hayes, J. Strzalka, M. C. Hersam, R. P. H. Chang, T. J. Marks and L. X. Chen, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2020, 8, 15234 DOI: 10.1039/D0TC03393F

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