Name: morphology control for fully printable organic&#8211;inorganic bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on a ti-alkoxide and semiconducting polymer
Uploaded: 2017-01-10T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Morphology Control for Fully Printable OrganicÃ¢â‚¬â€œInorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer at JoVE.com

This work was partially supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 25871029, the Nippon Sheet Glass Foundation for Materials Science and Engineering, and the Tochigi Industrial Promotion Center. The National Institute of Technology, Oyama College, also assisted with the publication costs of this article.

1. Preparation of Indium-tin-oxide (ITO) Glass for Solar Cell Fabrication
<ol>
	<li>Cut the ITO/glass substrate.
	<ol>
		<li>Using a glass cutter, cut the ITO/glass substrate (10 cm &#215; 10 cm) into pieces measuring approximately 2 cm &#215; 2 cm.</li>
	</ol>
	</li>
	<li>Chemically etch the ITO conductive layer.
	<ol>
		<li>Using a digital multimeter, check that the top of the ITO/glass piece has a conductive side.</li>
		<li>Place masking tape on both sides of the ITO/glass piece, leaving a central area of 2 mm &#21...

<ol>
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In order to utilize the molecule&#39;s bulkiness in this method, it is important to know the conditions for film formation by spin coating. First, the p-type and n-type semiconductors must be able to be dissolved in the solvents. When some material remains, it will become the large core of the domains in the photoactive layer. The use of an adequate commercial filter for individual solvents is recommended to remove the remaining material. Next, the precursor solution in which the molecules dissolve must be uniformly and ...

Organic photovoltaic devices are considered promising renewable energy sources due to their low manufacturing cost and light weight1-7. Because of these advantages, a large number of scientists have been immersed in this promising area. In the past decade, dye-sensitized, organic thin-film, and perovskite-sensitized solar cells have achieved significant progress in power conversion efficiency in this area8.
Specifically, organic thin-film solar cells and BHJ organic thin-film solar-cell technology are efficient and cost-effective solutions for the utilization of solar energy. Furthermore, the energy conversion efficiency has reached over 10% with the use of low-band-gap polymers as the electron donor and fullerene derivatives as the electron acceptor (Phenyl-C61-Butyric-Acid-Methyl Ester: [60]PCBM or Phenyl-C71-Butyric-Acid-Methyl Ester: [70]PCBM)9-11. Moreover, some researchers have already reported the importance of the BHJ structure in the photoactive layer, which is constructed with low-band-gap polymers and fullerene derivatives to obtain a high overall efficiency. However, fullerene derivatives are air-sensitive. Therefore, an air-stable electron-accepting material is required as an alternative. A few reports previously suggested new types of organic photovoltaic cells that used n-type semiconducting polymers or metal oxides as electron acceptors. These reports supported the development of air-stable, fullerene-free, organic thin-film solar cells12-15.
However, in contrast to fullerene systems or n-type semiconducting polymer systems, obtaining a satisfactory performance of the BHJ structure in the photoactive layer, which has charge separation and charge transfer abilities, is difficult in metal oxide systems16-17. Furthermore, fullerene derivatives and n-type semiconducting polymers have high solubility in many solvents. Therefore, it is easy to control the morphology of the photoactive layer by selecting an ink solution as the solvent, which is the precursor of the photoactive layer18-20. In contrast, in the case of metal alkoxide systems used in combination with an electron-donating polymer, both semiconductors are insoluble in almost all solvents. This is because metal alkoxides do not have a high solubility in the solvent. Therefore, the selectivity of solvents for morphology control is extremely low.
In this article, we report a method for controlling the morphology of the photoactive layer by using molecular bulkiness to fabricate printable and highly air-stable BHJ solar cells. We describe the importance of morphology control for the progress of fullerene-free BHJ solar cells.

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="625">
	<tbody>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ti(IV) isopropoxide, 97%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">205273</td>
			<td style="width:187px;"></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ti(IV) ethoxide</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">244759</td>
			<td>Technical grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ti(IV) butoxide, 97%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">244112</td>
			<td>Reagent grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ti(IV) butoxide polymer</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">510718</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Poly[2,7-(9,9-dioctylfluorene)-alt-4,7-bis(thiophen-2-yl)benzo-2,1,3-thiadiazole] (PFO-DBT)</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">754013</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">[6,6]-phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester ([60]PCBM) 99.5%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Sigma Aldrich</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">684449</td>
			<td>Research grade</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="84">
			<td height="84" style="height:84px;width:216px;">poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS)</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Heraeus</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">Clevios S V3</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">1N Hydrochloric acid</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">083-01095</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Chlorobenzene 99.0%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">032-07986</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Acetone 99.5%</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Wako</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">016-00346</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Indium-tin oxide (ITO)-coated glass substrate</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Geomatec</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">0002</td>
			<td>100&#215;100&#215;1.1t (mm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Glass substrate</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Matsunami Glass</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">S7213</td>
			<td>76&#215;26&#215;1.2t (mm)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Cotton tail&#160;</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">As one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">1-8584-16</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Epoxy resin</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Nichiban</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AR-R30</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Plastic spatula</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">As one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">2-3956-02</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ultrasonic cleaner</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">As one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">AS482</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Magnetic hot&#160; stirrer</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">As one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">RHS-1DN</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Ceramic hotplate</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">As one</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">CHP-17DN</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Spin coater</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Kyowariken</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">K-359 S1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Vacuum pump</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">ULVAC</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">DA-30S</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="25">
			<td height="25" style="height:25px;width:216px;">UV-O3 cleaner</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Filgen</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">UV253E</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Screen printer</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Mitani Electronics</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">MEC-2400</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="42">
			<td height="42" style="height:42px;width:216px;">Ultrasonic Soldering system</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">Kuroda Techno</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">SUNBONDER USM-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="63">
			<td height="63" style="height:63px;width:216px;">Direct-current voltage and current source/monitor integrated system</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">San-Ei Electric</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">XES-40S1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:216px;">Scanning electron microscope</td>
			<td style="width:103px;">JEOL Ltd.</td>
			<td style="width:119px;">JSM-7800</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

morphology control for fully printable organic&#8211;inorganic bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on a ti-alkoxide and semiconducting polymer

The photoactive layer of a typical organic thin-film bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cell commonly uses fullerene derivatives as the electron-accepting material. However, fullerene derivatives are air-sensitive; therefore, air-stable material is needed as an alternative. In the present study, we propose and describe the properties of Ti-alkoxide as an alternative electron-accepting material to fullerene derivatives to create highly air-stable BHJ solar cells. It is well-known that controlling the morphology in the photoactive layer, which is constructed with fullerene derivatives as the electron acceptor, is important for obtaining a high overall efficiency through the solvent method. The conventional solvent method is useful for high-solubility materials, such as fullerene derivatives. However, for Ti-alkoxides, the conventional solvent method is insufficient, because they only dissolve in specific solvents. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to morphology control that uses the molecular bulkiness of Ti-alkoxides without the conventional solvent method. That is, this method is one approach to obtain highly efficient, air-stable, organic-inorganic bulk-heterojunction solar cells.

We have presented a protocol for fabricating fully printable organic-inorganic BHJ solar cells, as well as a method for controlling the phase-separation structure. The solar-cell performance has been extensively investigated27-31 when Ti(IV) isopropoxide and ethoxide were used as electron-accepting materials (Figure 1). These solar cells exhibited a short-circuit current density (Jsc) that is approximately eight times higher than that of devices using the &#34;...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Morphology Control for Fully Printable OrganicÃ¢â‚¬â€œInorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer at JoVE.com

Morphology Control for Fully Printable OrganicÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…â€œInorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer

A method for fully printable, fullerene-free, highly air-stable, bulk-heterojunction solar cells based on Ti alkoxides as the electron acceptor and the electron-donating polymer fabrication is described here. Moreover, a method for controlling the morphology of the photoactive layer through the molecular bulkiness of the Ti-alkoxide units is reported.

Morphology Control for Fully Printable Organic&#8211;Inorganic Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells Based on a Ti-alkoxide and Semiconducting Polymer

The photoactive layer of a typical organic thin-film bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) solar cell commonly uses fullerene derivatives as the electron-accepting ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Engineering

Micropunching Lithography for Generating Micro- and Submicron-patterns on Polymer Substrates

Conducting polymers have attracted great attention since the discovery of high conductivity in doped polyacetylene in 19771. They offer the advantages of ...

Integrating a Triplet-triplet Annihilation Up-conversion System to Enhance Dye-sensitized Solar Cell Response to Sub-bandgap Light

The poor response of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to red and infrared light is a significant impediment to the realization of higher photocurrents ...

Printing Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells and In Situ Morphology Characterization

Printing Fabrication of Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells and In Situ Morphology Characterization

Polymer-based materials hold promise as low-cost, flexible efficient photovoltaic devices. Most laboratory efforts to achieve high performance devices ...

Monovalent Cation Doping of CH3NH3PbI3 for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Monovalent Cation Doping of CH3NH3PbI3 for Efficient Perovskite Solar Cells

Here, we demonstrate the incorporation of monovalent cation additives into CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite in order to adjust the optical, excitonic, and electrical ...

In Situ Monitoring of the Accelerated Performance Degradation of Solar Cells and Modules: A Case Study for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells

In Situ Monitoring of the Accelerated Performance Degradation of Solar Cells and Modules: A Case Study for CuIn,GaSe2 Solar Cells

The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) of photovoltaic (PV) systems is determined by, among other factors, the PV module reliability. Better prediction ...

Indoor Experimental Assessment of the Efficiency and Irradiance Spot of the Achromatic Doublet on Glass (ADG) Fresnel Lens for Concentrating Photovoltaics

Indoor Experimental Assessment of the Efficiency and Irradiance Spot of the Achromatic Doublet on Glass ADG Fresnel Lens for Concentrating Photovoltaics

We present a method to characterize achromatic Fresnel lenses for photovoltaic applications. The achromatic doublet on glass (ADG) Fresnel lens is ...

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy

Intelligent robots are part of a new generation of robots that are able to sense the surrounding environment, plan their own actions and eventually reach ...

Installation Method to Enhance Quality Control for Fiber Reinforced Polymer Spike Anchors

Fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) anchors are a promising way to enhance the performance of externally-bonded FRPs applied to existing structures, as they ...

O-cresol Concentration Online Measurement Based On Near Infrared Spectroscopy Via Partial Least Square Regression

Unlike macroscopic process variables, near-infrared spectroscopy provides process information at the molecular level and can significantly improve the ...

In Situ Surface Temperature Measurement in a Conveyor Belt Furnace via Inline Infrared Thermography

Measuring the surface temperature of objects that are processed in conveyor belt furnaces is an important tool in process control and quality assurance. ...