Exploring Organic Solar Cells with Scanning Probe Microscopy

Exploring Organic Solar Cells with Scanning Probe Microscopy
Author: David Coffey
Publisher: VDM Publishing
Total Pages: 164
Release: 2008
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9783836463768
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Future-generation solar cells are continually being introduced and refined. These new designs, however, are often based on new materials and there is a lack of fundamental understanding about how such devices work and how they can be improved. Conjugated polymers and small molecules are two such promising classes of materials suited for use in low-cost, thin-film solar cells. The performance of these materials, however, is highly dependent on film structure, and directly correlating local film structures with device performance remains challenging. This work describes several new techniques developed to probe and control the local optoelectronic properties of organic semiconducting films. These techniques include electrostatic force microscopy (trEFM), photoconductive atomic force microscopy (pcAFM), and a fabrication technique based on Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN). Taken together, these methods provide a first nanoscale look a charge and current generation in organic photovoltaic films. This work introduces these new techniques for the reader and details how they are being used to solve current scientific questions.

Correlating structure and function in small molecule organic solar cells by means of scanning probe and electron microscopy

Correlating structure and function in small molecule organic solar cells by means of scanning probe and electron microscopy
Author: Michael Scherer
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
Total Pages: 202
Release: 2016-07-20
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3741251526
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In this work nanoscale properties in active layers of small molecule organic solar cells are studied regarding their impact on device performance. For this, the effect of variations in stack design and process conditions is examined both electrically and with high resolution imaging techniques. Two topics are addressed: (i) the visualization of charge extraction/injection properties of solar cell contacts and (ii) the tailoring of structural properties of co-evaporated material blends for bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cells. (i) We study the impact of controlled contact manipulation on the internal electric potential distribution of fluorinated zincphtalocyanine (F4ZnPc)/fullerene (C60) organic solar cells under operating conditions. In a detailed analytical study using photoelectron spectroscopy and in-operando scanning Kelvin probe microscopy it is demonstrated that the electric field distribution of organic solar cells at the maximum power point depends in an overproportional manner on contact properties and ranges from bulk to contact dominated even for solar cells with decent device performance. (ii) The morphology of co-evaporated active layer blends depends on both substrate and substrate temperature. Here we study the morphology of F4ZnPc:C60 blends with analytical transmission electron microscopy. For all substrates used is found that co-evaporation of the materials at elevated substrate temperature (100° Cel) induces a distinct phase segregation of F4ZnPc and C60. However, only when using a C60 underlayer, as in inverted devices, also the crystallinity of the segregated C60 phase increases. There is only a slight increase in crystallinity when F4ZnPc acts as an underlayer, as typically for non-inverted devices. Solar cell characterization reveals that the crystalline C60 domains are the main driving force for enhanced free charge carrier generation and higher power conversion efficiencies. With this we could provide a novel explanation why record efficiencies of small molecule organic solar cells are realized in inverted device architecture only.

Potential Distribution Within Organic Solar Cells

Potential Distribution Within Organic Solar Cells
Author: Saive Rebecca
Publisher: Sudwestdeutscher Verlag Fur Hochschulschriften AG
Total Pages: 124
Release: 2014-12-29
Genre:
ISBN: 9783838139463
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The sun provides many times the energy we need, making it the most promising energy source. Conversion of sunlight to electrical energy is obtained in photovoltaic (PV) devices. Organic Solar Cells represent a new class of PV devices in which organic molecules serve as semiconductor materials. Although there has been huge progress in the performance of these devices, the physical fundamentals of charge transport still require a complete description. The author developed a powerful and novel method to investigate the cross section of electronic devices using in-situ focused ion beam preparation and scanning Kelvin probe microscopy. Using this method it was possible for the first time to spatially resolve the open circuit voltage in operating organic solar cells. Furthermore, charge transport loss mechanisms in bulk heterojunction solar cells and the origin of S-shaped current-voltage characteristics were revealed. This dissertation describes preparation techniques, challenges, and results in an unconcealed way complementing the publications "Imaging the electric potential within organic solar cells" and "Understanding S-shaped current-voltage characteristics of organic solar cells."

Organic Solar Cells

Organic Solar Cells
Author: Qiquan Qiao
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2017-12-19
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1351831216
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Current energy consumption mainly depends on fossil fuels that are limited and can cause environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. These factors have stimulated the search for alternate, clean, and renewable energy sources. Solar cells are some of the most promising clean and readily available energy sources. Plus, the successful utilization of solar energy can help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Recently, organic solar cells have gained extensive attention as a next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their light weight, mechanical flexibility, and solution-based cost-effective processing. Organic Solar Cells: Materials, Devices, Interfaces, and Modeling provides an in-depth understanding of the current state of the art of organic solar cell technology. Encompassing the full spectrum of organic solar cell materials, modeling and simulation, and device physics and engineering, this comprehensive text: Discusses active layer, interfacial, and transparent electrode materials Explains how to relate synthesis parameters to morphology of the photoactive layer using molecular dynamics simulations Offers insight into coupling morphology and interfaces with charge transport in organic solar cells Explores photoexcited carrier dynamics, defect states, interface engineering, and nanophase separation Covers inorganic–organic hybrids, tandem structure, and graphene-based polymer solar cells Organic Solar Cells: Materials, Devices, Interfaces, and Modeling makes an ideal reference for scientists and engineers as well as researchers and students entering the field from broad disciplines including chemistry, material science and engineering, physics, nanotechnology, nanoscience, and electrical engineering.

Characterizing the Local Optoelectronic Performance of Organic Solar Cells with Scanning-probe Microscopy

Characterizing the Local Optoelectronic Performance of Organic Solar Cells with Scanning-probe Microscopy
Author: David C. Coffey
Publisher:
Total Pages: 149
Release: 2007
Genre: Organic thin films
ISBN: 9780549039051
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First, with an aim of rapidly fabricating photovoltaic films with varying morphology, we demonstrate that Dip-Pen Nanolithography (DPN) can be used to control nanoscale phase separation with sub-150 nm lateral resolution in polymer films that are 20--80 nm thick. This control is based on writing monolayer chemical templates that nucleate phase separation, and we use this technique to study heterogeneous nucleation in thin films.

Organic Solar Cells

Organic Solar Cells
Author: Liming Ding
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 988
Release: 2022-02-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3527833668
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Organic Solar Cells A timely and singular resource on the latest advances in organic photovoltaics Organic photovoltaics are gaining widespread attention due to their solution processability, tunable electronic properties, low temperature manufacture, and cheap and light materials. Their wide range of potential applications may result in significant near-term commercialization of the technology. In Organic Solar Cells: Materials Design, Technology and Commercialization, renowned scientist Dr. Liming Ding delivers a comprehensive exploration of organic solar cells, including discussions of their key materials, mechanisms, molecular designs, stability features, and applications. The book presents the most state-of-the-art developments in the field alongside fulsome treatments of the commercialization potential of various organic solar cell technologies. The author also provides: Thorough introductions to fullerene acceptors, polymer donors, and non-fullerene small molecule acceptors Comprehensive explorations of p-type molecular photovoltaic materials and polymer-polymer solar cell materials, devices, and stability Practical discussions of electron donating ladder-type heteroacenes for photovoltaic applications In-depth examinations of chlorinated organic and single-component organic solar cells, as well as the morphological characterization and manipulation of organic solar cells Perfect for materials scientists, organic and solid-state chemists, and solid-state physicists, Organic Solar Cells: Materials Design, Technology and Commercialization will also earn a place in the libraries of surface chemists and physicists and electrical engineers.

Scanning Probe Microscopy For Energy Research: Materials, Devices, And Applications

Scanning Probe Microscopy For Energy Research: Materials, Devices, And Applications
Author: Dawn Bonnell
Publisher: World Scientific
Total Pages: 640
Release: 2013-03-26
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9814434728
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Efficiency and life time of solar cells, energy and power density of the batteries, and costs of the fuel cells alike cannot be improved unless the complex electronic, optoelectronic, and ionic mechanisms underpinning operation of these materials and devices are understood on the nanometer level of individual defects. Only by probing these phenomena locally can we hope to link materials structure and functionality, thus opening pathway for predictive modeling and synthesis. While structures of these materials are now accessible on length scales from macroscopic to atomic, their functionality has remained Terra Incognitae. In this volume, we provide a summary of recent advances in scanning probe microscopy studies of local functionality of energy materials and devices ranging from photovoltaics to batteries, fuel cells, and energy harvesting systems. Recently emergent SPM modes and combined SPM-electron microscopy approaches are also discussed. Contributions by internationally renowned leaders in the field describe the frontiers in this important field.

Scanning Probe Microscopy of Soft Matter

Scanning Probe Microscopy of Soft Matter
Author: Vladimir V. Tsukruk
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 663
Release: 2012-01-09
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 3527639969
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Well-structured and adopting a pedagogical approach, this self-contained monograph covers the fundamentals of scanning probe microscopy, showing how to use the techniques for investigating physical and chemical properties on the nanoscale and how they can be used for a wide range of soft materials. It concludes with a section on the latest techniques in nanomanipulation and patterning. This first book to focus on the applications is a must-have for both newcomers and established researchers using scanning probe microscopy in soft matter research. From the contents: * Atomic Force Microscopy and Other Advanced Imaging Modes * Probing of Mechanical, Thermal Chemical and Electrical Properties * Amorphous, Poorly Ordered and Organized Polymeric Materials * Langmuir-Blodgett and Layer-by-Layer Structures * Multi-Component Polymer Systems and Fibers * Colloids and Microcapsules * Biomaterials and Biological Structures * Nanolithography with Intrusive AFM Tipand Dip-Pen Nanolithography * Microcantilever-Based Sensors