Processing conformal polymer photovoltaic thin-films on textured topographies for photonic management

在纹理形貌上加工保形聚合物光伏薄膜以进行光子管理

• 批准号: 1236839
• 负责人: Sumit Chaudhary
• 金额: $ 39.95万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1236839&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Processing; conformal; polymer; photovoltaic; thin

PI: Chaudhary, SumitProposal Number: 1236839Institution: Iowa State UniversityTitle: Processing conformal polymer photovoltaic thin-films on textured topographies for photonic managementOrganic photovoltaic (OPV) technology is a potentially widespread approach for sustainable and economical solar-electric conversion owing to its promise of roll-to-roll fabrication on flexible substrates, using a solution-phase process. In an OPV device, a thin film (active-layer) is coated on a flat substrate from a biphasic solution consisting of two organic materials (electron donors and acceptor). However, optical losses in such a device are high and efficiencies are low. This project introduces a new processing paradigm for light-trapping and higher efficiencies ? coating conformal layers of polymeric OPV blends on sub-micron scale textured topographies. (1) Active-layers of OPVs will be spin-coated on textured topographies and processing-structure-property correlations will be established. (2) A theoretical framework to model fluid-flow and evaporation while coating on textured topographies will be developed to inform the experimental task of best topographical dimensions and appropriate processing conditions. Knowledge discovery emerging will then be used to fabricate textured OPV cells using doctor-blading technique (a prototype for roll-to-roll manufacturing). Overall objective of this project is to establish a library of topographies and processing conditions that are amenable to achieving conformal polymer films on such surfaces, so that effective light trapping and higher solar-electric conversion efficiencies are realized.The proposed research takes the thin-film paradigm into the third dimension (textured approach), thus promising to overcome the classic OPV trade-off pertaining to dissimilar photonic and charge-transport scales. Intellectual merit and transformative nature of proposed research lies in the attempt to answer the following fundamental question ? What should be the dimensions of underlying topographies and processing conditions, such that not only effective optical absorption is achieved in ultra-thin polymer layers, but it is also possible to coat such films, conformally on these topographies? Fabrication and characterization, including optical and device modeling will be coupled with fluid-flow modeling to achieve this overall objective. Other than the field of OPVs, the proposed research will also have implications on a more general problem of thin film coating over functional substrates containing topographical features. This problem is of enormous significance for various engineering, industrial and physical applications.The proposed work is highly interdisciplinary combining elements from experimental work on photovoltaic devices, and computational work on fluid-mechanics and phase-transformation. The multidisciplinary components of the project will be integrated into a larger educational effort to offer students a solid foundation in scientific computing and renewable energy. Our education and outreach plans further include (1) modules for existing course on organic electronics and a new course in multiscale mdoelling, (2) developing a mentoring program, linking graduate with undergraduate students, with special emphasis on underrepresented groups ? with an objective of increasing recruitment and retention, and (3) outreach activities that demonstrate to the K-12 community the crucial role of computing in science and technology. To this end, the PIs will create educational modules involving immersive simulations of OPV processes which will be demonstrated to Ames high school students, (4) preparing modules for the lesson and hands-on components based Toying With Technology program, in place at Iowa State for the current and future K-12 teachers, (5) continuing to work with ?Women in Mechanical Engineering? in engaging women and minority undergraduate students.

主要研究者：Chaudhary，SumitProposal编号：1236839机构：爱荷华州州立大学题目：在用于光子管理的纹理形貌上处理保形聚合物光伏薄膜有机光伏（OPV）技术是一种潜在的广泛的可持续和经济的太阳能-电力转换方法，因为它承诺在fl柔性衬底上使用溶液相工艺进行卷对卷制造。 在OPV器件中，由两种有机材料（电子供体和受体）组成的双相溶液在基底上涂覆薄的1 m（活性层）。然而，这种器件中的光损耗高并且效率低。这个项目介绍了一个新的处理范例光捕获和更高的效率？在亚微米级纹理形貌上涂覆聚合物OPV共混物的保形层。(1)OPV的活性层将被旋涂在纹理化的形貌上，并且将建立加工-结构-性质的相关性。(2)模型fluid-fl的理论框架将开发在纹理形貌上涂覆时的流动和蒸发，以告知最佳形貌尺寸和适当处理条件的实验任务。知识发现出现，然后将用于制造纹理OPV电池使用刮片技术（卷到卷制造的原型）。该项目的总体目标是建立一个拓扑结构和处理条件的库，这些拓扑结构和处理条件适于在这样的表面上实现保形聚合物&lms，从而实现有效的光捕获和更高的太阳能-电转换效率&。Im范例到第三维（纹理化方法），从而有望克服与不同的光子和电荷传输尺度有关的经典OPV权衡。建议的研究的知识价值和变革性质在于试图回答以下基本问题？下面的形貌和处理条件的尺寸应该是什么，使得不仅在超薄聚合物层中实现有效的光学吸收，而且还可以在这些形貌上保形地涂覆这种1 ms？ 制造和表征，包括光学和器件建模，将与#64258;uid-#64258;ow建模相结合，以实现这一总体目标。除了OPV领域之外，所提出的研究还将对包含形貌特征的功能基底上的薄1 μ m涂层的更一般的问题产生影响。这个问题意义重大&。cance为各种工程，工业和物理应用。拟议的工作是高度跨学科的结合元素从实验工作的光伏器件，和计算工作fl流体力学和相变。该项目的多学科组成部分将被整合到一个更大的教育工作，为学生提供科学计算和可再生能源的坚实基础。我们的教育和推广计划还包括（1）现有的有机电子课程和多尺度模块化新课程的模块，（2）开发一个指导计划，将研究生与本科生联系起来，特别强调代表性不足的群体？目标是增加招聘和保留，以及（3）向K-12社区展示计算在科学和技术中的关键作用的外联活动。为此，PI将创建教育模块，涉及OPV过程的沉浸式模拟，将向艾姆斯高中学生演示，（4）为课程准备模块，并基于玩弄技术计划的实践组件，在爱荷华州为当前和未来的K-12教师准备，（5）继续与？女性在机械工程？吸引女性和少数民族本科生。