Exploring Spray-Coating Techniques for Organic Solar Cell Applications

Wanyi Nie; Robert Coffin; Jiwen Liu; Christopher M. MacNeill; Yuan Li; Ronald E. Noftle; David L. Carroll

doi:10.1155/2012/175610

International Journal of Photoenergy (Jan 2012)

Exploring Spray-Coating Techniques for Organic Solar Cell Applications

Wanyi Nie,
Robert Coffin,
Jiwen Liu,
Christopher M. MacNeill,
Yuan Li,
Ronald E. Noftle,
David L. Carroll

Affiliations

Wanyi Nie: Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, 501 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA
Robert Coffin: Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, 501 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA
Jiwen Liu: Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, 501 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA
Christopher M. MacNeill: Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
Yuan Li: Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, 501 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA
Ronald E. Noftle: Department of Chemistry, Wake Forest University, 1834 Wake Forest Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, USA
David L. Carroll: Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials, Wake Forest University, 501 Deacon Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27105, USA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/175610
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 2012

Abstract

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We have investigated spray coating as a novel processing method for organic solar cell fabrication. In this work, spraying parameters and organic solvent influences have been correlated with cell performance. Using airbrush fabrication, bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices based on a new low band gap donor material: poly[(4,8-bis(1-pentylhexyloxy)benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl-alt-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole-4,7-diyl] with the C60-derivative (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as an acceptor, have achieved power conversion efficiencies over 3%. We show that airbrush fabrication can be carried out with simple solvents such as pristine 1,2-dichlorobenzene. Moreover, the influence of device active area has been studied and the 1 cm2 device by spray coating maintained an excellent power conversion efficiency of 3.02% on average.

Published in International Journal of Photoenergy

ISSN: 1110-662X (Print); 1687-529X (Online)
Publisher: Hindawi Limited
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Technology: Mechanical engineering and machinery: Renewable energy sources
Website: https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/

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