Collaborative Research: High-Performance Crystalline Bulk Heterojunction Organic Solar Cells

技术概述：本合作研究项目旨在研究小分子晶体半导体的成核和生长，寻找精确控制晶体尺寸、表面覆盖率和供体/受体界面的方法，最终目标是实现低成本、高效率的太阳能电池。高纯度、小分子有机材料在光伏性能方面具有显著优势。通过使用可溶性小分子半导体，创造合适的薄膜形态有望提供优越的电荷传输特性，潜在地实现光伏器件的高性能。该项目需要数学家合作，对混合半导体的成核、晶体生长和相分离进行建模；设计、合成和调整合适的供体和受体半导体的化学家；材料研究人员对薄膜进行分析；以及太阳能电池的建造和评估工程师。该团队将协同工作，了解晶粒生长的机制，定制供体和受体，以最大限度地提高电压和电流，并改进表面处理和沉积方法，以形成大面积的材料和器件。非技术总结：对可溶性小分子半导体成核和生长的理解有望对电子领域的一系列努力产生重大影响，包括太阳能电池、固态照明、柔性显示器和射频识别标签。为了最大限度地提高本研究项目的培训效果，肯塔基大学和普林斯顿大学的参与研究小组交换了研究人员，以加强参与学生的跨学科培训。这个交流项目向工程研究人员介绍有机合成，并允许数学研究生学习薄膜生长和器件制造技术。ppi计划每年举办一次夏令营，让所有参与者都能对项目进行联合评估。科学家们还将继续与当地学校接触，并指导高中生进行研究项目。该项目由材料研究部、化学部和数学科学部共同资助。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY: This collaborative research project is to study the nucleation and growth of small-molecule crystalline semiconductors, to discern ways to precisely control crystal grain size, surface coverage, and donor/acceptor interfaces, with the ultimate goal to realize low-cost, highly efficient solar cells. High-purity, small-molecule organic materials promise significant advantages in photovoltaic performance. By using soluble small-molecule semiconductors, the creation of appropriate thin-film morphologies is expected to provide superior charge transport properties, potentially achieving high performance of photovoltaic devices. The project requires collaboration of mathematicians for modeling nucleation, crystal growth and phase separation of the blended semiconductors; chemists for the design, synthesis and tuning of appropriate donor and acceptor semiconductors; materials researchers for the analysis of films; and engineers for construction and evaluation of solar cells. The team will work synergistically to understand the mechanisms of grain growth, tailor donor and acceptor to maximize voltage and current, and improve surface treatments and deposition methods to allow the formation of large-area materials and devices.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: An understanding of nucleation and growth of soluble small-molecule semiconductors is expected to have significant impact in an array of endeavors across the spectrum of electronics, including solar cells, solid-state lighting, flexible displays and radio-frequency identification tags. To maximize the training impact of this research project, the participating research groups at Kentucky and Princeton exchange researchers to enhance the cross-disciplinary training of participating students. This exchange introduces engineering researchers to organic synthesis, and allows mathematics graduate students to learn film growth and device fabrication techniques. The PIs plan to run an annual summer camp, to immerse all participants in a joint review of the project. The scientists will also continue outreach to local Schools and mentor high school students in research projects.This project is co-funded by the Divisions of Materials Research, Chemistry, and Mathematical Sciences.