Photochemical stability of π-conjugated polymers for polymer solar cells: a rule of thumb

Manceau, Matthieu; Bundgaard, Eva; Carlé, Jon Eggert; Hagemann, Ole; Helgesen, Martin; Søndergaard, Roar R.; Jørgensen, Mikkel; Krebs, Frederik C.

doi:10.1039/c0jm03105d

Cited by 241 publications

(226 citation statements)

References 42 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

217

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In particular, oxidative damage or other photodegradation of the conjugated polymers must be avoided. 74 CURRENT BEST DEVICES Table 1 highlights the characteristics and structural order of some of the block copolymer solar cell materials published across the literature. In compiling this list, which is by no means comprehensive, we note that it is often difficult to compare all of the many systems that have been reported.…”

Section: Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Block copolymer strategies for solar cell technology

Topham¹,

Parnell²,

Hiorns³

2011

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

186

169

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A simple overview of the methods used and the expected benefits of block copolymers in organic photovoltaic devices is given in this review. The description of the photovoltaic process makes it clear how the detailed self-assembly properties of block copolymers can be exploited. Organic photovoltaic technology, an inexpensive, clean and renewable energy source, is an extremely promising option for replacing fossil fuels. It is expected to deliver printable devices processed on flexible substrates using high-volume techniques. Such devices, however, currently lack the long-term stability and efficiency to allow organic photovoltaics to surpass current technologies. Block copolymers are envisaged to help overcome these obstacles because of their long term structural stability and their solid-state morphology being of the appropriate dimensions to efficiently perform charge collection and transfer to electrodes.

show abstract

Section: Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Block copolymer strategies for solar cell technology

Topham¹,

Parnell²,

Hiorns³

2011

J Polym Sci B Polym Phys

186

169

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[25][26][27] A relative stability ranking of some chemical building blocks has been created by synthesizing D-A polymers from various combinations of common donor and acceptor units. 28 While work of this type provides synthetic chemists with helpful empirical guidelines, it does not address why some building units are more stable than others. In addition to the functional groups on the conjugated backbone, solution-processed OSC materials contain solubilizing side chains that can also impact stability.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular Packing and Arrangement Govern the Photo-Oxidative Stability of Organic Photovoltaic Materials

et al. 2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

For long-term performance chemically robust materials are desired for organic solar cells (OSCs). Illuminating neat films of OSC materials in air and tracking the rate of absorption loss, or photobleaching, can quickly screen a material's photo-chemical stability. In this report, we photobleach neat films of OSC materials including polymers, solution-processed oligomers, solution-processed small molecules, and vacuum-deposited small molecules. Across the materials we test, we observe photobleaching rates that span seven orders of magnitude. Furthermore, we find that the film morphology of any particular material impacts the observed photobleaching rate, and that amorphous films photobleach faster than crystalline ones. In an extreme case, films of amorphous rubrene photobleach at a rate 2500 times faster than polycrystalline films. When we compare density to photobleaching rate, we find that stability increases with density. We also investigate the relationship between backbone planarity and chemical reactivity. The polymer PBDTTPD is more photostable than its more twisted and less ordered furan derivitative, PBDFTPD. Finally, we relate our work to what is known about the chemical stability of structural polymers, organic pigments, and organic light emitting diode materials. For the highest chemical stability, planar materials that form dense, crystalline film morphologies should be designed for OSCs.

show abstract

“…The literature suggests a number of possible causes or factors electron donor stability can be related to including: chemical structure; formation of singlet oxygen and superoxide radical anions (O − 2 ). 19,24,25 The latter two mechanisms will be described below before the review of polymer photo-oxidation is continued.…”

Section: Photochemical Stability Of Electron Donors (Polymers)mentioning

confidence: 99%

The significance of fullerene electron acceptors in organic solar cell photo-oxidation

Speller

2017

Materials Science and Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Stability of organic solar cells requires development before their commercialisation is possible. This review will give a brief overview of organic solar cells and their stability, before focussing on the photochemical stability of the active layer. The photo-oxidation of the donor polymers will be looked at first which has been studied quite extensively and then fullerene electron acceptors, such as widely used phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, which has been considerably less studied. It has been shown that oxidation of the fullerene cage on phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester results in oxides with a deeper lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) level than the fresh electron acceptor. These oxides act as electron traps, leading to deterioration of the blend photoconductivity. The significance of fullerene photo-oxidation on device stability has been indirectly shown via research on: photoconductivity; organic solar cells made with an oxidised fullerene derivative and organic field effect transistors. Techniques that could be developed to increase photochemical stability of fullerene electron acceptor resistance to photooxidation include: reducing its LUMO level; increasing its crystallinity or aggregation and changing its chemical structure. Improving the photochemical stability of organic solar cells would move us one step closer to a more accessible solar power.

show abstract

Photochemical stability of π-conjugated polymers for polymer solar cells: a rule of thumb

Cited by 241 publications

References 42 publications

Block copolymer strategies for solar cell technology

Block copolymer strategies for solar cell technology

Molecular Packing and Arrangement Govern the Photo-Oxidative Stability of Organic Photovoltaic Materials

The significance of fullerene electron acceptors in organic solar cell photo-oxidation

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About