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

项目负责人：Chaudhary， sumit提案编号：1236839机构：爱荷华州立大学标题：在光子管理的纹理拓扑上加工共形聚合物光伏薄膜有机光伏（OPV）技术是一种潜在的广泛方法，用于可持续和经济的太阳能-电力转换，因为它有望在&amp；#64258；柔性衬底，采用溶液相工艺。在OPV器件中，薄的&amp；#64257；Lm（有源层）涂在&amp；#64258；由两种有机材料（电子供体和受体）组成的双相溶液中的底物。然而，这种器件的光损耗高，效率低。该项目引入了一种新的光捕获和更高效率的处理范式。在亚微米尺度的织构形貌上涂覆聚合物OPV共混物的保形层。(1) opv的活性层将在织构形貌上进行自旋涂覆，并建立加工-结构-性能相关性。(2)建立&amp；#64258;uid-&amp；#64258模型的理论框架；在有纹理的地形上涂层时，将发展Ow和蒸发，以告知最佳地形尺寸和适当的加工条件的实验任务。然后，知识发现将用于使用医生刀片技术（卷对卷制造的原型）制造有纹理的OPV电池。该项目的总体目标是建立一个地形和加工条件库，适用于获得保形聚合物。在这样的表面上使用LMS，从而实现有效的光捕获和更高的太阳能-电转换效率。提出的研究采取薄-&amp；#64257；m范式进入第三维度（纹理方法），从而有望克服与不同光子和电荷输运尺度相关的经典OPV权衡。拟议研究的智力价值和变革性质在于试图回答以下基本问题？下面的地形和加工条件的尺寸应该是什么，这样不仅可以在超薄聚合物层中实现有效的光学吸收，而且还可以覆盖这样的涂层。Lms，在这些地形上的共形？制造和表征，包括光学和器件建模将与&amp；#64258;uid-&#64258；如何建模来实现这个总体目标。除了&amp；#64257；在opv领域，提出的研究也将对更普遍的薄问题产生影响。Lm涂层覆盖在包含地形特征的功能基材上。这个问题意义重大。适用于各种工程、工业和物理应用。拟议的工作是高度跨学科的，结合了光伏设备的实验工作和计算工作的元素。流体力学与相变。该项目的多学科组成部分将被整合到一个更大的教育努力中，为学生提供科学的坚实基础。C计算和可再生能源。我们的教育和推广计划进一步包括(1)现有有机电子学课程的模块和多尺度建模的新课程，(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展活动。为此，pi将创建包含沉浸式OPV过程模拟的教育模块，并将向艾姆斯高中学生展示，(4)为爱荷华州立大学当前和未来的K-12教师准备课程模块和基于Toying With Technology项目的动手组件，(5)继续与？机械工程领域的女性？让女性和少数族裔本科生参与进来。

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.