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Article
Quantitative Comparison of Organic Photovoltaic Bulk Heterojunction Photostability Under Laser Illumination
The Journal of Physical Chemistry C
  • Michael D. Lesoine, Iowa State University
  • Jonathan M. Bobbitt, Iowa State University
  • John A. Carr, Iowa State University
  • Moneim Elshobaki, Mansoura University, Egypt
  • Sumit Chaudhary, Iowa State University
  • Emily A. Smith, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
11-20-2014
DOI
10.1021/jp509589g
Abstract

The photostability of bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic films containing a polymer donor and a fullerene-derivative acceptor was examined using resonance Raman spectroscopy and controlled laser power densities. The polymer donors were poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT), poly[[9-(1-octylnonyl)-9Hcarbazole-2,7-diyl]-2,5-thiophenediyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl-2,5-thiophenediyl] (PCDTBT), or poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6- diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7). Four sample preparation methods were studied: (i) thin or (ii) thick films with fast solvent evaporation under nitrogen, (iii) thick films with slow solvent evaporation under nitrogen, and (iv) thin films dried under nitrogen followed by thermal annealing. Polymer order was assessed by monitoring a Raman peak’s full width at half-maximum and location as a function of illumination time and laser power densities from 2.5 × 103 to 2.5 × 105 W cm−2 . Resonance Raman spectroscopy measurements show that before prolonged illumination, PCDTBT and PTB7 have the same initial order for all preparation conditions, while P3HT order improves with slow solvent drying or thermal annealing. All films exhibited changes to bulk heterojunction structure with 2.5 × 105 Wcm−2 laser illumination as measured by resonance Raman spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy images show evidence of sample heating that affects the polymer over an area greater than the illumination profile. Photostability data are important for proper characterization by techniques involving illumination and the development of devices suitable for real-world applications.

Comments

Reprinted (adapted) with permission from The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 118(51); 30229-30237. Doi: 10.1021/jp509589g. Copyright 2014 American Chemical Society.

Copyright Owner
American Chemical Society
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Michael D. Lesoine, Jonathan M. Bobbitt, John A. Carr, Moneim Elshobaki, et al.. "Quantitative Comparison of Organic Photovoltaic Bulk Heterojunction Photostability Under Laser Illumination" The Journal of Physical Chemistry C Vol. 118 Iss. 51 (2014) p. 30229 - 30237
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/emily-smith/18/