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，并推进对提高太阳能电池和相关二极管中有机半导体性能所需的特性的基本理解。该方法将新半导体材料的合成与一套物理表征方法相结合，可以对控制器件性能的材料之间的界面进行详细探测。智力优势：为了实现有机器件的应用，需要提高对通过有机材料及其结的电荷传输的理解。该项目包括新材料组合的合成和探索，重点关注形态、界面、光物理和电荷输运性质。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，中子散射和深度剖面，这些技术通常不会在这些设备上使用。扫描栅极显微镜将用于pn结的表征。将获得对表面以下或器件薄膜中形成的结的平滑度，电压阶跃和界面电导率的新见解，并用于提高有机器件的性能参数。更广泛的影响：这项工作将增加对材料和器件特性的理解，这将使太阳能电池应用中具有更高性能的新材料的合成成为可能。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，包括代表性不足的群体成员。本研究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.