Efficient solar cells are more stable: The impact of polymer molecular weight on performance of organic photovoltaics

Z. Ding; J. Kettle; M. Horie; S. W. Chang; G. C. Smith; A. I. Shames; E. A. Katz

doi:https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta00721j

Efficient solar cells are more stable: The impact of polymer molecular weight on performance of organic photovoltaics

Z. Ding, J. Kettle, M. Horie, S. W. Chang, G. C. Smith, A. I. Shames, E. A. Katz

Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

The principle remaining challenge in the research area of organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials is to develop solar cells that combine high efficiency, stability and reproducibility. Here, we demonstrate an experimental strategy which has successfully addressed this challenge. We produced a number of samples of the highly efficient PTB7 polymer with various molecular weights (M_n ∼ 40-220k). OPV cells fabricated with this polymer demonstrated significant improvement of the cell efficiency (by ∼90% relative) and lifetime (by ∼300% relative) with the M_n increase. We attribute these effects to the lower density of recombination centers (persistent radical defects revealed by EPR spectroscopy) and better photoactive layer morphology in the samples with higher M_n. Relevance of the observed correlation between the OPV efficiency and stability is discussed.

Original language	American English
Pages (from-to)	7274-7280
Number of pages	7
Journal	Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume	4
Issue number	19
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta00721j
State	Published - 1 Jan 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

General Chemistry
General Materials Science
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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https://doi.org/10.1039/c6ta00721j

Cite this

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title = "Efficient solar cells are more stable: The impact of polymer molecular weight on performance of organic photovoltaics",

abstract = "The principle remaining challenge in the research area of organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials is to develop solar cells that combine high efficiency, stability and reproducibility. Here, we demonstrate an experimental strategy which has successfully addressed this challenge. We produced a number of samples of the highly efficient PTB7 polymer with various molecular weights (Mn ∼ 40-220k). OPV cells fabricated with this polymer demonstrated significant improvement of the cell efficiency (by ∼90% relative) and lifetime (by ∼300% relative) with the Mn increase. We attribute these effects to the lower density of recombination centers (persistent radical defects revealed by EPR spectroscopy) and better photoactive layer morphology in the samples with higher Mn. Relevance of the observed correlation between the OPV efficiency and stability is discussed.",

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T1 - Efficient solar cells are more stable

T2 - The impact of polymer molecular weight on performance of organic photovoltaics

AU - Ding, Z.

AU - Kettle, J.

AU - Horie, M.

AU - Chang, S. W.

AU - Smith, G. C.

AU - Shames, A. I.

AU - Katz, E. A.

PY - 2016/1/1

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N2 - The principle remaining challenge in the research area of organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials is to develop solar cells that combine high efficiency, stability and reproducibility. Here, we demonstrate an experimental strategy which has successfully addressed this challenge. We produced a number of samples of the highly efficient PTB7 polymer with various molecular weights (Mn ∼ 40-220k). OPV cells fabricated with this polymer demonstrated significant improvement of the cell efficiency (by ∼90% relative) and lifetime (by ∼300% relative) with the Mn increase. We attribute these effects to the lower density of recombination centers (persistent radical defects revealed by EPR spectroscopy) and better photoactive layer morphology in the samples with higher Mn. Relevance of the observed correlation between the OPV efficiency and stability is discussed.

AB - The principle remaining challenge in the research area of organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials is to develop solar cells that combine high efficiency, stability and reproducibility. Here, we demonstrate an experimental strategy which has successfully addressed this challenge. We produced a number of samples of the highly efficient PTB7 polymer with various molecular weights (Mn ∼ 40-220k). OPV cells fabricated with this polymer demonstrated significant improvement of the cell efficiency (by ∼90% relative) and lifetime (by ∼300% relative) with the Mn increase. We attribute these effects to the lower density of recombination centers (persistent radical defects revealed by EPR spectroscopy) and better photoactive layer morphology in the samples with higher Mn. Relevance of the observed correlation between the OPV efficiency and stability is discussed.

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Efficient solar cells are more stable: The impact of polymer molecular weight on performance of organic photovoltaics

Abstract

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