Understanding the role of organic polar solvent induced nanoscale morphology and electrical evolutions of P3HT:PCBM composite film

• The effect of organic polar solvent on the properties of P3HT:PCBM has been explored.
• The morphology and the electrical properties can be controlled via organic polar solvent.
• A favorable phase separation is obtained through organic polar solvent.

We investigated the effect of organic polar solvent on the properties of [6,6]-phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) films and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):PCBM blend films employed as active layer in organic photovoltaic. The nanoscale morphology and the electrical characteristics of the P3HT:PCBM film can be controlled through organic polar solvent exposure, which exhibited with a short-circuit current density of 8.64 mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 0.63 V, and a power conversion efficiency of 3.29% under AM 1.5 illumination with a light intensity of 100 mW/cm2. By exposing the active layer films to organic polar solvent a favorable phase separation in the P3HT:PCBM films is obtained. The improved power conversion efficiency can be to the high conductivity and high surface area of the P3HT:PCBM layer treated with organic polar solvent.

Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide