Spin-cast bulk heterojunction solar cells: A dynamical investigation

Spin-coating is extensively used in the lab-based manufacture of organic solar cells, including most of the record-setting solution-processed cells. We report the first direct observation of photoactive layer formation as it occurs during spin-coating. The study provides new insight into mechanisms and kinetics of bulk heterojunction formation, which may be crucial for its successful transfer to scalable printing processes. Copyright © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Citation

Chou, K. W., Yan, B., Li, R., Li, E. Q., Zhao, K., Anjum, D. H., … Amassian, A. (2013). Spin-Cast Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells: A Dynamical Investigation. Advanced Materials, 25(13), 1923–1929. doi:10.1002/adma.201203440

Sponsors

The authors thank the Frechet group at University of California at Berkeley with in particular Alan Yiu, Dr. Jeremy Niskala and Dr. Claire Woo for helpful discussions and assistance in the on-site device fabrication and testing. The authors also thank Prof. Natalie Stingelin for valuable discussions. This work was supported by KAUST's Office of Collaborative Research Grant. The Advanced Light Source is supported by the Director, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC02-05CH11231.