Exploring Ternary-Blend Polymer Solar Cells: From Fundamental Understanding to High Efficiency

非技术总结：典型的聚合物太阳能电池的有效成分只使用两个有机半导体（这被称为“二元”系统，包含一个聚合物和一个富勒烯分子）。然而，“三元”体系（两种不同的聚合物与富勒烯分子混合）正受到越来越多的关注，因为它们可以最大限度地吸收光，同时保持简单的制造过程。虽然已经证明效率超过8%，但为了显著提高能量转换效率，还需要进一步的基本工作原理。本研究的目的是对选定的三元共混聚合物太阳能电池进行基础研究，并根据对这种太阳能电池工作机制的新认识发现设计原理，以进一步提高其效率。所选择的三元共混电池的基本工作机制的阐明将对有机电子学的许多领域产生影响，包括太阳能电池和晶体管。进一步提高聚合物太阳能电池的效率将促进此类技术的商业化，以低成本提供可再生能源，从而符合国家利益。教育、合作和推广是拟议工作的关键方面。该项目的多学科、跨机构和国际合作性质为培养研究生和本科生的教育和研究经验提供了一个特殊的机会。科学和工程领域代表性不足的群体将被积极招募到主要研究者的研究小组中。一些外展项目将帮助公众了解可再生能源的重要性和最新的研究成果。技术概述：该项目的研究活动将结合共轭聚合物的设计和合成以及相关设备的制造/表征，并通过适当的合作，将其与互补的复杂设备物理和全面的形态表征结合起来。这项综合研究的重点是通过分子设计、器件物理和形态表征的结合，研究“平行”体异质结（phhj）型三元有机太阳能电池的工作机制。本项目结束时的目标包括充分探索和验证两种不同的模型来解释phbhj，即。“parallel-like”vs。“合金”，以及有用和实用的设计原理。所选择的三元共混BHJ电池的基本工作机制的阐明将对正在进行的新型三元体系的追求产生直接影响，旨在显著提高聚合物太阳能电池的效率。这可能会对聚合物太阳能电池的商业部门产生重大的商业影响。此外，发现这些共轭聚合物的结构-性能相关性将为有机电子学的其他子领域提供有价值的更广泛的见解，例如，有机场效应晶体管。教育、合作和推广是拟议工作的关键方面。该项目的多学科、跨机构和国际合作性质为培养研究生和本科生的教育和研究经验提供了一个特殊的机会。科学和工程领域代表性不足的群体将被积极招募到PI的研究小组中。一些外展项目将帮助公众了解可再生能源的重要性和最新的研究成果。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The active component of a typical polymer solar cell employs only two organic semiconductors (this is called a "binary" system and contains a polymer and a fullerene molecule). However, "ternary" systems (where two different polymers are blended with fullerene molecules) are receiving increasing attention because they can maximize the light absorption while maintaining an easy fabrication process. Though efficiencies over 8% have been demonstrated, further fundamental working principles are needed in order to dramatically improve the energy conversion efficiency. The objective of this research is to conduct a fundamental study of selected ternary blend polymer solar cells and to discover design rationales based on new knowledge of the operating mechanisms of such solar cells, with the intent to further improve their efficiency. The elucidated fundamental working mechanism of selected ternary blend cells will have an impact on many fields within organic electronics, including solar cells and transistors. Further improving the efficiency of polymer solar cells will facilitate the commercialization of such technologies, serving the national interest by offering renewable energy at a low cost. Education, collaboration, and outreach are key aspects of the proposed work. The multidisciplinary, inter-institutional and internationally collaborative nature of this project offers a special opportunity to foster educational and research experiences at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Underrepresented groups in science and engineering will be actively recruited into the Principle Investigator's research group. A number of outreach programs will help the general public to understand the importance of renewable energy and the latest research efforts.TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The research activities in this project will combine design and synthesis of conjugated polymers and related device fabrication/characterization with complementary sophisticated device physics and with comprehensive morphology characterization through appropriate collaborations. The focus of this integrated research is the investigation of the working mechanism for "parallel-like" bulk heterojunction (PBHJ) type ternary organic solar cells, via this combination of molecular design, device physics, and morphology characterization. Goals at the conclusion of this project include the full exploration and verification of two different models to explain the PBHJ, i.e. "parallel-like" vs. "alloy", as well as useful and practical design rationales. The elucidated fundamental working mechanism of selected ternary blend BHJ cells should have a direct impact on the ongoing pursuit of novel ternary systems, aiming to dramatically improve the efficiency of polymer solar cells. This could have significant commercial impact on the business sector of polymer solar cells. Additionally, discovered structure-property correlations of these conjugated polymers will provide valuable broader insights to other sub-fields within organic electronics, for example, organic field-effect transistors. Education, collaboration, and outreach are key aspects of the proposed work. The multidisciplinary, inter-institutional and internationally collaborative nature of this project offers a special opportunity to foster educational and research experiences at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Underrepresented groups in science and engineering will be actively recruited into the PI's research group. A number of outreach programs will help the general public to understand the importance of renewable energy and the latest research efforts.