Tailoring the Energy Levels of Donor and Acceptor in Organic Photovoltaics for Increased Photovoltage with Ferroelectric Dipole Layer

该项目由电气、通信和网络系统部（ECCS）的能源、电力和自适应系统计划（EPAS）和材料研究部（DMR）的电子和光子材料计划（EPM）共同资助。研究目的和方法。本研究的目的是通过关注导致OPV器件效率降低的主要原因，即发生在从供体分子到受体分子的电荷转移过程中，从而使有机光伏（OPV）器件的效率得到大幅提高。该方法是在半导体供体层和受体层之间插入电偶极子层，通过调节相对能级来最小化能量损失。知识价值。该方案提供了一种独特的器件设计规则，可以将OPV器件的开路电压潜在地提高到热力学极限。这种器件结构可以应用于任何现有的聚合物体系中，在不影响电流输出或器件稳定性等其他特性的情况下提高效率。这是一种变革性的方法，因为它有可能将opv从实验室课题转变为重要技术。此外，所提出的研究将为电荷光产生，电荷收集以及决定OPV器件光电压输出的因素提供新的基本见解。更广泛的影响。项目活动将对科学知识、教育、推广作出重大贡献，并将通过技术转让、培训下一代科学家和工程师以及向社会宣传有机太阳能生产的激动人心之处，使社会受益。该项目将为研究生提供行业研究经验等创新机会。该项目将促进教学、培训和学习，让本科生参与跨学科的合作研究活动，并从少数民族和代表性不足的群体中招募学生。

This project is jointly funded by the Energy, Power, and Adaptive Systems Program (EPAS) in the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) and the Electronic and Photonic Materials Program (EPM) in the Division of Materials Research (DMR).Research Objectives and Approaches. The objective of this research is to enable large efficiency improvements of Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) devices by focusing on the leading cause of efficiency reduction in OPV devices which occurs in the charge transfer process from donor to acceptor molecules. The approach is to insert an electric dipole layer between the semiconductor donor and acceptor layers to minimize the energy loss with tuned the relative energy levels. Intellectual merit. This project provides a unique device design rule to increase the open circuit voltage of OPV devices potentially to the thermodynamic limit. This device structure can be applied in any existing polymer system to boost the efficiency without compromising other properties such as the current output or device stability. This is a transformational approach because of its potential to transform OPVs from laboratory subject to vital technology. In addition, the proposed research will provide new fundamental insight into the physics of charge photogeneration, charge collection, and the factors determining photovoltage output of OPV devices. Broader Impact. The project activities will make significant contributions to scientific knowledge, education, outreach, and will benefit society through technology transfer, training the next generation of scientists and engineers, and informing society about the excitement of organic solar energy production. The project will provide graduate students with innovative opportunities such as industry research experience for graduate students. This project will promote teaching, training, and learning by involving undergraduate involved in the inherently interdisciplinary cooperative research activities and recruiting students from minorities and underrepresented groups.