Chu-Jung Ko

Solvent mixtures for improving device efficiency of polymer photovoltaic devices

In this work, we used solvent mixtures, consisting of 1-chloronaphthalene (Cl-naph), one solvent with a high boiling point, and o-dichlorobenzene, to prepare the polymer films for polymer photovoltaic devices. Because of the lower vapor pressure of the solvent mixtures, the polymer films dried slower. With higher Cl-naph concentration in the organic solvent, the polymer chains had longer time to self-organize themselves. As a result, the higher degree of crystalline led to lower device series resistance, thereby increasing the performance of the photovoltaic devices.

Modified buffer layers for polymer photovoltaic devices

The influence of anode buffer layers on the performance of polymer photovoltaic devices based on blends of poly3-hexylthiophene and 6,6-phenyl-C-61-buytyric acid methyl ester has been investigated. The buffer layers consist of poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene:polystyrenesulfonate PEDOT-PSS doped with different concentrations of mannitol. Improved power conversion efficiency, up to 5.2%, has been observed by reducing the resistance of PEDOT:PSS after doping. One extrapolation method has been developed to exclude the resistance from the connection of the electrodes from the total device resistance. The results confirm that the device improvement is due to the reduction of series resistance of the PEDOT:PSS after the mannitol doping.

Submicron-scale manipulation of phase separation in organic solar cells

This paper describes a method for controlling the submicron-scale phase separation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and (6,6)-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester in organic solar cells. Using microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers on the device buffer layer to divide the surface into two regimes having different surface energies, an interdigitated structure aligned vertical to the substrate surface is achieved after spontaneous surface-directed phase separation. The power conversion efficiency increases upon decreasing the grating spacing, reaching 2.47%. The hole mobility increased as a consequence of improved polymer chain ordering, resulting in higher device efficiency, while smaller pattern sizes were used.

Self-Organization of Microlens Arrays Caused by the Spin-Coating-Assisted Hydrophobic Effect

A simple, low-cost, low-temperature, and shape-controllable approach has been demonstrated to fabricate polymer microlens arrays (MLAs). By using microcontact printing of the self-assembled monolayers and then spin coating, the microlenses were able to organize themselves on the patterned glass substrate. High-quality MLAs made of NOA65 prepolymer with lens-diameters of 50, 75, and 100 mum have been fabricated by this method. Lens shapes can be controlled by changing the spin rates of the prepolymer coating. Optical measurements have revealed an excellent light-collecting capability from the fabricated MLAs. It is anticipated that the technique will be ideally suited to low-cost and high-volume production