We correlate carrier recombination via charge transfer excitons (CTEs) with the short circuit current, Jsc, in polymer/fullerene solar cells. Near infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy of CTE in three blends differing for the fullerene acceptor, gives unique insights into solar cell characteristics. The energetic position of the CTE is directly correlated with the open-circuit voltage, Voc, and more important Jsc decreases with increasing CTE emission intensity. CTE emission intensity is discussed from the perspective of blend morphology. The work points out the fundamental role of CTE recombination and how optical spectroscopy can be used to derive information on solar cell performances.

Since micro- and nanostructures for photon management are of increasing importance in novel high-efficiency solar cell concepts, structuring techniques with up-scaling potential play a key role in their realization. Interference lithography and nanoimprint processes are presented as technologies for origination and replication of fine-tailored photonic structures on large areas. At first, these structure origination and replication technologies are presented in detail: With the interference pattern of two or more coherent waves, a wide variety of structures with feature sizes ranging from 100 nm to 100 µm can be generated in photoresist by interference lithography. Examples are linear gratings, crossed gratings, hexagonal structures, three dimensional photonic crystals or surface-relief diffusers. The strength of this technology is that homogeneous structures can be originated on areas of up to 1.2 x 1.2 m2. The structures in photoresist, the so-called master structures, can serve as an etching mask for a pattern transfer, as a template for infiltration with different materials or they can be replicated via electroplating and subsequent replication processes. Especially in combination with replication steps, the industrially feasible production of elaborate structures is possible. As a particularly interesting process, nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is described in detail. As a way towards industrial production, a roller NIL tool is presented. After the description of the basic technologies, three application examples for solar cells are presented with details about the design of the structures, the structuring processes, sample characterization and evaluation: (1) honeycomb structures for the front side texturization of multicrystalline silicon wafer solar cells, (2) diffractive rear side gratings for absorption enhancement in the spectral region near the band gap of silicon, and (3) plasmonic metal nanoparticle arrays manufactured by combined imprint and lift off processes

We demonstrate an innovative process to fabricate uniformly shaped plasmonic nanoparticles. Laser interference lithography, nano-imprint lithography and a lift-off process are employed for the controlled production of periodically arranged nanoparticles on large areas. Round and elliptic silver particles with diameters of about 200 nm on an area of 5×5cm2 are investigated. Measurements of resonant absorption by the metal particles are in agreement with data computer-simulated by rigorous coupled wave analysis. We observe that the plasmonic resonance of elliptic particles depends on the polarization of incident light and that porosity of the metal influences the plasmonic band

In this study, we demonstrate how the intrinsic properties of a polymer can influence the electrical characteristics of organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). OFETs fabricated with three batches of poly[2-methoxy,5-(3 0 ,7 0 -dimethyl-octyloxy)]p-phenylene vinylene (MDMO-PPV) were investigated. The properties of the polymers were initially investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), impedance spectroscopy (IS), gel permeation chromotography (GPC), and cyclic voltammetry (CV), respectively. The structure and purity of the polymer batches were found to be very comparable, but the molecular weight (M n and M w ) and polydispersity (PDI ¼ M w /M n ), varied between the samples and the HOMO and LUMO levels of the polymers were found to depend on the molecular weight properties. OFETs were then fabricated with the polymers and electrically characterized. It was observed that the channel current and the field-effect mobility increase with increasing polymer molecular weight. The output characteristics of the transistors, on the other hand, were found to depend on the PDI of the polymer. Saturation of the channel current occurs at higher source-drain voltages and short-channel behavior was observed to start at longer channel lengths for polymers with a higher PDI. This behavior is observed to be thickness dependent, and the shortchannel behavior was more pronounced for thicker MDMO-PPV films. These results are explained in terms of influences of chain packing and ordering and high bulk currents on the FET output and transistor parameters.

Metallic nanostructures revealing plasmonic effects are a promising approach for improved photon management in thin solar cells. Irregular structures, as found in literature, suffer from parasitic absorption as a result of the varying dimensions of the particles. The parasitic absorption can be minimized by realising regularly ordered particles. Our fabrication process, suitable to meet these requirements, is based on interference lithography (IL), UV nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) and lift-off. As a process capable of large area structure origination, we use IL for the realization of master structures. Combining IL with NIL as a replication technique, the process chain is very versatile concerning nanoparticle shapes, sizes and arrangements. In the UV-NIL process, a flexible silicone stamp, which was replicated from the master structure, is pressed into a resist, which is cross-linked by UV light. A plasma etching step is applied to remove the residual resist layer. Afterwards, the substrate is coated with a thin metal layer and finally a lift-off is carried out. This results in metallic nanoparticles arranged in a regular pattern on the substrate. We show simulations and experimental results of round and elliptical disks and half spheres arranged in crossed and hexagonal gratings on glass and silicon. The elliptical particles show polarization dependent resonance effects. In a model assisted parameter study, we demonstrate the influence of various structure parameters on the absorption enhancement in silicon. Finally, optical measurements of ordered silver nanoparticles on the rear side of a silicon wafer are shown