Understanding and Controlling Defects in Organic Photovoltaic Materials

技术支持：该项目旨在更深入地了解有机光伏（OPV）器件中电子和结构缺陷的性质。目前，对此类缺陷的起源和性质以及它们对器械性能的影响知之甚少。该项目将通过各种实验技术分析OPV器件现有和新材料的缺陷，包括阻抗谱、载流子输运测量以及OPV器件制造和测试。实验结果将与电荷输运和复合过程的Monte Carlo计算模拟以及OPV器件性能的有限元计算紧密结合。在减轻或消除设备缺陷的尝试将通过技术进行，如脉冲电偏置，以诱导局部尺度形态的细微变化或宏观短路缺陷的去除。非技术性：该项目涉及与电子学和光子学技术相关的材料科学领域的基础研究问题。该项目的成功结果将导致更有效和更强大的有机光伏器件，利用易于扩展到大面积和高吞吐量制造的技术提供低成本太阳能的途径。有机光催化剂科学和工程的基本进展可以通过现有的初创OPV公司很容易地过渡到应用，这些公司正在努力将该技术带到具有成本效益的大面积太阳能转换点。将强调研究和教育的整合，为学生提供跨越物理，化学和工程领域的机会和挑战，并通过项目的协作性质。一名女本科生将参与该项目，预计这一经历将加速她的学习过程，并有助于她在应用物理或工程领域的研究生生涯。在大学之外，该项目将通过与落基山脉航空航天博物馆的互动接触丹佛当地社区。通过与博物馆现有的密切关系，PI和学生将在博物馆建立新的展览，向公众展示太阳能和有机及其他光伏技术的科学和工程。他还将为夏令营和博物馆的项目提供课程，这些项目将面向男女童子军、少数民族和高危人群中的儿童。

Technical: This project aims for greater fundamental understanding of the nature of electronic and structural defects in organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices. At present, the origin and nature of such defects are poorly understood, as is their impact on device performance. This project will analyze defects in existing and new materials for OPV devices through a variety of experimental techniques, including impedance spectroscopy, carrier transport measurements, and OPV device fabrication and testing. The experimental results will be closely coupled with Monte Carlo computational simulations of charge transport and recombination processes and finite element calculations of OPV device performance. Attempts at mitigating or removing defects from the devices will be carried out through techniques such as pulsed electrical biasing to induce either subtle changes in the local-scale morphology or removal of macroscopic short-circuit defects.Non-technical: The project addresses basic research issues in a topical area of materials science with technological relevance in electronics and photonics. Successful outcome of the project will result in more efficient and robust organic photovoltaic devices that provide an avenue to low cost solar energy utilizing a technology that is easily scaled to large area and high throughput manufacturing. Fundamental progress in the science and engineering of organic photovoltaics can be readily transitioned to application via existing start-up OPV companies that are striving to bring the technology to the point of cost-efficient, large area solar power conversion. Integration of research and education will be emphasized providing students with opportunities and challenges across the fields of physics, chemistry, and engineering, and through the collaborative nature of the project. A female undergraduate student will be working on the project, and it is expected that this experience will accelerate her learning process and help launch her graduate career in applied physics or engineering. Outside the University, the project will reach out to the local Denver community via interaction with the Wings over the Rockies Air & Space Museum. Through an existing close relationship with the museum, the PI and students will build new exhibits at the museum that expose the general population to the science and engineering of solar energy and organic and other photovoltaic technologies. He will also provide curriculum for summer camps and programs at the museum that reach out to Boy and Girl Scout troops, minorities, and children in at-risk populations.