High stability and high efficiency printable photovoltaics (OPV) for large-scale energy production

石油储量的枯竭、燃料成本的螺旋式上升、对全球能源供应安全的担忧以及全世界对化石燃料引起的气候变化的迟来的认识，引发了对可持续能源的紧迫和前所未有的需求。在所有这些能源中，太阳能光伏（PV）能源是唯一具有足够理论容量满足全球电力需求的能源，但硅基PV的高成本阻止了广泛采用。在这个项目中，我们专注于有机光电池（OPV）的发展，作为一种低成本的技术，有可能取代传统的电源。该计划将伦敦帝国理工学院与中国四所领先的机构联系起来，建立在ICL在分子电子材料和器件的物理和应用方面的优势以及我们合作伙伴在特种材料开发和扩大规模方面的优势之上。英国和中国在这一领域的合作计划是特别及时的，因为迫切需要能够满足中国快速发展和巨大能源需求的替代能源。我们的建议侧重于可溶液加工的有机分子和聚合物，这些分子和聚合物具有传统印刷中使用的油墨的许多化学，结构和流变特性，并且可以通过现有的印刷和涂料工业进行大规模生产。虽然该项目专注于提高OPV器件效率和寿命的基础研究，但该项目开发的技术将与大规模生产的高通量制造工艺兼容。此外，该方案将受益于中国将技术发展转化为当地生产的能力。可溶液加工的OPV器件通常基于本体异质结结构中的电子供体材料（通常为共轭聚合物）和电子受体（通常为富勒烯衍生物）的组合。光的吸收光子产生激子，激子在供体/受体界面处解离以产生分离的电荷。复合膜夹在两个不同的电极之间，这两个电极通过它们的电子亲和势的不对称性来驱动光电流的产生。OPV器件的功率转换效率目前为5%，并且需要提高效率和寿命以刺激商业化。器件模型表明，使用具有足够高的氧化电位的聚合物材料和具有比目前可用的那些材料更高的功函数的电极材料，可以获得8%或更高的功率转换效率。在该提案中，将开发具有更高效率所需特性的新聚合物和电极材料，将设计和评估提供更高器件稳定性的新材料，并开发与大规模，大批量生产兼容的加工技术。该计划汇集了ICL团队在器件设计，制造，表征和加工方面的专业知识，以及中国四家领先机构在专业有机半导体合成及其在发光器件中的应用方面的专业知识。在适当的情况下，还将研究材料和器件设计在发光方面的应用，以探索照明市场的节能潜力。

The depletion of oil reserves, spiralling fuel costs, concerns about the security of global energy supplies, and belated worldwide recognition of fossil-fuel induced climate change have sparked an urgent and unprecedented demand for sustainable energy sources. Amongst all of these sources solar photovoltaic (PV) energy stands out as the only one with sufficient theoretical capacity to meet global electricity needs, but high costs of silicon based PV prohibit widespread take-up. In this programme, we focus on the development of organic photovoltaics (OPV) as a low cost technology with the potential to displace conventional power sources. The proposed programme links Imperial College London with four leading Chinese institutions, building on ICL's strengths in the physics and application of molecular electronic materials and devices and on our partners' strengths in speciality materials development and scale-up. A collaborative programme between the UK and China in this area is particularly timely, given the pressing need for alternative power sources that are capable of meeting the rapid development rate and large energy demand of China. Our proposal focuses on solution-processable organic molecules and polymers which share many of the chemical, structural and rheological properties of the inks used in conventional printing and which are amenable to large-scale production through the existing printing and coating industries. Although the project is focused on fundamental research in enhancing the efficiency and lifetime of OPV devices, the technology developed in this project will be compatible with high throughput manufacturing processes for large-scale production. In addition, the programme stands to benefit from the capabilities in China for transferring technological developments into local production. Solution processable OPV devices are typically based on the combination of an electron donor material (usually a conjugated polymer) and an electron acceptor (typically a fullerene derivative) in a bulk heterojunction structure. Absorbed photons of light create excitons which dissociate at the donor/acceptor interface to yield separated charges. The composite film is sandwiched between two different electrodes which drive photocurrent generation through the asymmetry in their electron affinities. The power conversion efficiency of OPV devices currently stands at 5%, and increases in both efficiency and lifetime are required to stimulate commercialization. Device models indicate that power conversion efficiencies of 8 % or more are available with polymer materials possessing sufficiently high oxidation potential and electrode materials with higher work function than those currently available. In this proposal, new polymer and electrode materials will be developed which possess the required properties for higher efficiency, new material which offer higher device stability will be designed and evaluated, and processing techniques compatible with large scale, high volume production will be developed. The programme brings together the expertise of the ICL team in device design, fabrication, characterisation and processing with the expertise of four leading Chinese institutions in synthesis of specialized organic semiconductors and their application in light emitting devices. Application of materials and device designs to light emission will also be investigated where appropriate, in order to explore the potential for energy savings in the lighting market.