Charge generation and morphology in P3HT : PCBM nanoparticles prepared by mini-emulsion and reprecipitation methods

Schwarz, Kyra N.; Farley, Sam B.; Smith, Trevor A.; Ghiggino, Kenneth P.

doi:10.1039/c5nr06244f

Cited by 59 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…43 A core–shell morphology of NPs in aqueous dispersions was also observed for other material combinations having similar differences in surface tension. 20,22,23,36,44,45 In our view, such core–shell morphology limits the performance of the NP solar cells.…”

Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Aqueous Nanoparticle Polymer Solar Cells: Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Processing on Device Performance

Colberts

Wienk

Janssen

2017

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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Polymer solar cells based on PDPP5T and PCBM as donor and acceptor materials, respectively, were processed from aqueous nanoparticle dispersions. Careful monitoring and optimization of the concentration of free and surface-bound surfactants in the dispersion, by measuring the conductivity and ζ-potential, is essential to avoid aggregation of nanoparticles at low concentration and dewetting of the film at high concentration. The surfactant concentration is crucial for creating reproducible processing conditions that aid in further developing aqueous nanoparticle processed solar cells. In addition, the effects of adding ethanol, of aging the dispersion, and of replacing [60]PCBM with [70]PCBM to enhance light absorption were studied. The highest power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) obtained are 2.0% for [60]PCBM and 2.4% for [70]PCBM-based devices. These PCEs are limited by bimolecular recombination of photogenerated charges. Cryo-TEM reveals that the two components phase separate in the nanoparticles, forming a PCBM-rich core and a PDPP5T-rich shell and causing a nonoptimal film morphology.

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Section: Results and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Aqueous Nanoparticle Polymer Solar Cells: Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Processing on Device Performance

Colberts

Wienk

Janssen

2017

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

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“…[44][45] Due to the particulate shape and the coreshell structure of NPs prepared through miniemulsion method 25,37 , the coalescing of NPs could ideally tune the morphology of the active layer and is thus desirable for better charge transport and extraction. 21,46 To coalesce NPs without inducing defects in the film, thermalannealing was introduced, which is widely applied to both NP and BHJ solar devices to improve the morphology of the active layer, therefore enhancing the performance of devices. [46][47][48] The schematic shown in Fig.…”

Section: Property Of Nanoparticlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…4c), NPs were sintered and the relatively homogenous film was obtained, which could improve the charge transport 43 and reduce the possibility of charge recombination in the coalesced NP active layer in OPVs. 21 Upon annealing at 180 °C, large aggregates in the NP-chloroform film were observed (Fig. 4d), which was attributed to the crystallization of PC 71 BM.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…[18][19][20] OPVs with active layers processed from a water or alcohol based nanoparticle dispersion has been reported in recent years. [21][22][23][24] These nanoparticles are processed from donor-acceptor blends either through a miniemulsion process with the presence of surfactant [25][26][27][28] or a precipitation method [21][22][23]29 . Furthermore, conjugated polymer nanoparticles were also reported to be synthesized by direct Suzuki-Miyaura dispersion polymerization.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Pan

Sharma

Gedefaw

et al. 2018

Organic Electronics

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Aqueous nanoparticle dispersions were prepared from a conjugated polymer poly(2,5-thiophene-alt-4,9-bis(2-hexyldecyl)-4,9-dihydrodithieno[3,2-c:3',2'-h][1,5]naphthyridine-5,10-dione) (PTNT) and fullerene blend utilizing chloroform as well as a non-chlorinated and environmentally benign solvent, o-xylene, as the miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent. The nanoparticles (NPs) in the solid-state film were found to coalesce and offered a smooth surface topography upon thermal annealing. Organic photovoltaics (OPVs) with photoactive layer processed from the nanoparticle dispersions prepared using chloroform as the miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent were found to have a power conversion efficiency M A N U S C R I P T A C C E P T E D ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT2 (PCE) of 1.04%, which increased to 1.65% for devices utilizing NPs prepared from o-xylene.Physical, thermal and optical properties of NPs prepared using both chloroform and o-xylene were systematically studied using dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and correlated to their photovoltaic properties. The PL results indicate different morphology of NPs in the solid state were achieved by varying miniemulsion dispersed phase solvent.

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“…35 With the surfactant-stabilized nanoparticle approach, trace amounts of surfactant may remain incorporated in the active material and potentially interfere deleteriously with formation of the bulk-heterojunction, and thus impinge upon device performance and device lifetime. 32 The surfactant-free approach to nanoparticles mitigates these potential issues.…”

Section: %;mentioning

confidence: 99%

Hydrogen evolution at conjugated polymer nanoparticle electrodes

et al. 2018

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Organic polymer nanoparticles have been gaining attention in photovoltaics as a means to control the morphology of polymer composite films for the purpose of studying bulk heterojunction, photoactive layers. This work investigates the preparation of nanostructured organic thin films from P3HT:PC 61 BM nanoparticles and their characterization as photoelectrodes for the photoelectrochemical reduction of hydrogen in acidic solutions. The morphology and optoelectronic properties of the nanostructured photocathodes are compared to conventional, solution-cast thin films of P3HT:PC 61 BM. The nanostructured photoelectrodes provide increased surface area compared to solution-cast films through control of the nanoscale morphology within each nanoparticle, leading to enhanced P3HT:PC 61 BM phase segregation. The photo-assisted deposition of platinum nanoparticles as hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts onto the nanostructured P3HT:PC 61 BM photocathodes facilitates the photoreduction of protons to H 2 .

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Charge generation and morphology in P3HT : PCBM nanoparticles prepared by mini-emulsion and reprecipitation methods

Cited by 59 publications

References 45 publications

Aqueous Nanoparticle Polymer Solar Cells: Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Processing on Device Performance

Aqueous Nanoparticle Polymer Solar Cells: Effects of Surfactant Concentration and Processing on Device Performance

Environmentally friendly preparation of nanoparticles for organic photovoltaics

Hydrogen evolution at conjugated polymer nanoparticle electrodes

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