Self-Organized Heterocyclic Amines Films on Carbon Substrates for Photovoltaic Applications

Abstract

Future technologies for organic photovoltaics include self-organization and self-assembly. Heterocyclic amines, namely sodium sulfacyl, clonidine, and cyanocobalamin, were deposited on four types of carbon-on-paper substrates by the self-organization assembly method. Each organic film was deposited in the chemical bath for 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 min. Carbon substrates were thin layers of carbon composites deposited on Maestro paper. Compositions of carbon films of thicknesses about 20 mcm included graphitized carbon black “PureBlack@”and graphite “KGPS-1” as the permanent components, as well as activated carbon, magnetite, nanotubes, and needle graphite DBX-010 as variable components. Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) served as a binder for all of these composites. Morphological features of organic-carbon hybrids were investigated using optical microscopy MII-4 of 500 nm resolution with a SLR camera. The injection properties of the obtained hybrids were studied on standard equipment for current–voltage characteristics measuring. The thin organic films demonstrated the possibility of self-organization on various carbon substrates. The best grid morphology was determined for the optimal deposition time between 20 and 40 min with circular-type cells. The best injection properties correlated with the best morphology. These heterocyclic amines-on-carbon hybrids are promising structures for the formation of non-expensive and easily-fabricated solar cells.

Keywords

• self-organization
• chemical bath
• heterocyclic amines
• carbon black
• carbon substrate
• morphology