Publication
Title
Shelf life degradation of bulk heterojunction solar cells : intrinsic evolution of charge transfer complex
Author
Abstract
Achievement of long-term stability of organic photovoltaics is currently one of the major topics for this technology to reach maturity. Most of the techniques used to reveal degradation pathways are destructive and/or do not allow for real-time measurements in operating devices. Here, three different, nondestructive techniques able to provide real-time information, namely, film absorbance, capacitance-voltage (C-V), and impedance spectroscopy (IS), are combined over a period of 1 year using non-accelerated intrinsic degradation conditions. It is discerned between chemical modifications in the active layer, physical processes taking place in the bulk of the blend from those at the active layer/contact interfaces. In particular, it is observed that during the ageing experiment, the main source for device performance degradation is the formation of donor-acceptor charge-transfer complex (P3HT(center dot+)-PCBM center dot-) that acts as an exciton quencher. Generation of these radical species diminishes photocurrent and reduces open-circuit voltage by the creation of electronic defect states. Conclusions extracted from absorption, C-V, and IS measurements will be further supported by a range of other techniques such as atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and dark-field imaging of scanning transmission electron microscopy on ultrathin cross-sections.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Advanced energy materials. - Weinheim, 2011, currens
Laser physics review. - Place of publication unknown
Publication
Weinheim : WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. , 2015
ISSN
1614-6832 [print]
1614-6840 [online]
DOI
10.1002/AENM.201401997
Volume/pages
5 :7 (2015) , 8 p.
Article Reference
1401997
ISI
000352708600013
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
SUstainable Novel FLexible Organic Watts Efficiently Reliable (SUNFLOWER).
Colouring Atoms in 3 Dimensions (COLOURATOM).
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 11.06.2015
Last edited 09.10.2023
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