P-N Interface Probing and Design for Organic/Hybrid Photovoltaics and Circuit Components

这项研究的目的是开发改进的材料，并推进对太阳能电池和相关二极管中有机半导体性能增强所需的基本理解。 该方法结合了新的半导体材料的合成与一组物理表征方法，使详细的探测控制设备performance.Intellectual优点：为了实现有机器件的应用程序之间的接口，通过有机材料和跨其结的电荷传输的理解是必要的。 该项目包括新材料组合的合成和探索，重点是形态，界面，物理和电荷传输特性。将采用严格的表征技术，包括纳米级扫描和光敏开尔文探针，中子散射和深度分析，这些技术通常不适用于这些设备。扫描门显微镜将被引入pn结特性。新的洞察到的光滑度，电压阶跃，并在结下形成的表面，或在块，器件薄膜的界面电导率将获得，并用于提高有机器件的性能参数。更广泛的影响：增加理解的材料和设备的性能，将导致从这项工作将使合成的新材料，在太阳能电池应用中具有更好的性能。该项目将通过与霍华德大学合作，为科学和工程研究生提供多学科研究培训，包括代表性不足群体的成员。 这项工作的结果将用于加强本科和高中科学教育。

The objective of this research is to develop improved materials and advance fundamental understanding of properties that are needed for enhanced performance of organic semiconductors in solar cells and relevant diodes. The approach combines synthesis of new semiconductor materials with a set of physical characterization methods that enable detailed probing of the interfaces between materials that control device performance.Intellectual merit: In order to realize applications of organic devices, improved understanding of charge transport through organic materials and across their junctions is needed. This project includes synthesis and exploration of new materials combinations, focusing on morphological, interfacial, photophysical, and charge transport properties. Rigorous characterization techniques, including nanoscale scanning and photosensitive Kelvin probes, neutron scattering and depth profiling that have not often been brought to bear on these devices will be employed. Scanning gate microscopy will be introduced for pn junction characterization. New insight into the smoothness, voltage steps, and interfacial conductivities at junctions that are formed below the surface, or in the bulk, of device films will be gained, and used to enhance performance parameters of organic devices.Broader impacts: The increased understanding of material and device properties that will result from this work will enable the synthesis of new materials with improved performance in solar cell applications. The project will provide multidisciplinary research training for graduate students in science and engineering, including members of underrepresented groups through collaborations with Howard University. The results of this work will be used to enhance both undergraduate and high school science education.