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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm Multi- Polymer Single Layer Solar Cells, Ted Andreas Nov 2012

P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm Multi- Polymer Single Layer Solar Cells, Ted Andreas

Physics

OPV efficiencies are limited by their narrow absorption; rather than using tandem architecture to overcome this obstacle, our group combined P3HT and PCPDTBT into a single layer BHJ solar cell that achieved 2.0% PCE. This is 33% higher than the pure P3HT control from this group, proving that multi-polymer solar cells have the potential to outperform their single-polymer components.


Multipolymer Interactions In Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices, Grant Olson Jun 2012

Multipolymer Interactions In Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices, Grant Olson

Physics

Multipolymer photovoltaics, single layer devices made up of multiple photoactive polymers, can create organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with a wider spectral response than single polymer systems without the difficult fabrication of a tandem. Our group has successfully created multipolymer solar devices with 2% power conversion efficiency. We have analyzed the optical and electrical properties of these devices, and found that it may be possible for polymers to assist each other with charge extraction, though combining polymers disrupts single polymer crystallinity.


Morphology Changes In Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And Its Effect On Polymer Solar Cell Performance, Galen David Cauble Aug 2011

Morphology Changes In Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And P3ht:Pcpdtbt:Pcbm And Its Effect On Polymer Solar Cell Performance, Galen David Cauble

Physics

Polymer solar cell morphology is sensitive to both heat and time. By thermally annealing polymer solar cells the morphology of the devices can be altered causing immediate changes in device performance. Blending PCPDTBT:PCBM with P3HT:PCPDTBT combines the absorption characteristics of each to create a more even absorption spectrum. Subjecting PCPDTBT:PCBM, and P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM polymer solar cells to thermal annealing as well as recording device performance through time has shown that P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM devices react positively to thermal annealing (increasing from 0.8% to 1.4%) while PCPDTBT:PCBM devices have varied reactions. Furthermore, the P3HT:PCPDTBT:PCBM devices have achieved efficiencies of 1.6% in AM 1.5 compared …