Richard A. Klenkler

A simple parallel tandem organic solar cell based on metallophthalocyanines

A simple parallel tandem solar cell based on a combination of Zn-phthalocyanine (Pc) and ClInPc has been fabricated and characterized. Compared to a traditional series tandem cell, parallel tandem cells eliminate the need for a semitransparent recombination layer, reducing the complexity of device fabrication while still providing an excellent increase in device performance. Results show a realized broadening of the spectral response and enhancement of the external quantum efficiency as a result of the complementary absorption profiles of ZnPc and ClInPc in the near infrared region. Introduction of a blended ClInPc:C60 layer is shown to more than double the power conversion efficiency of a standard ZnPc/C60 bilayer device (PCE=0.86%). The enhanced performance of the parallel tandem (PCE=1.81%) arises from an increase in both the open circuit voltage and the short circuit current.

Charge-carrier mobility in an organic semiconductor thin film measured by photoinduced electroluminescence

With existing methods it is difficult to measure the mobility of semiconducting thin films that have submicron thickness and submicrosecond charge-carrier transit time. To simplify these measurements we demonstrate a technique that is a combination of the time-of-flight and transient electroluminescence methods. The technique is fundamentally optical in that it decouples the carrier transient signal from the device charging circuit and hence removes the RC time constant constraint that limits existing methods. The technique was applied to measure electron mobility in a tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminum (AlQ3) thin film. Results agree well with mobility values obtained using other methods.

Flash nano-welding: investigation and control of the photothermal response of ultrathin bismuth sulfide nanowire films.

Ultrathin Bi₂S₃ nanowires undergo a pronounced photothermal response to irradiation from a commercial camera flash. Controlled nano-welding was shown by using single walled carbon nanotube mats as an electrically and thermally conductive substrate. The resulting welded nanowire film is denser and has significantly lower resistance than unflashed bilayer films.

Blend composition study of poly(3,3‴-didodecylquaterthiophene)/[6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester solution processed organic solar cells

Photovoltaic devices made from blends of poly(3,3‴-didodecylquaterthiophene) (PQT-12) and [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester have been fabricated and characterized. By varying the polymer loading in the blend, an optimal power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.70% has been achieved for a blend consisting of 15 wt % PQT-12, which is an order of magnitude higher than the PCE for a 50 wt % blend. The apparent reason for the large difference is the fact that blends with higher PQT-12 loading are transport limited, with much larger hole-to-electron mobility ratios.

Charge transport across pressure-laminated thin films of molecularly doped polymers

Discrete interfaces between successive layers in an organic semiconducting device simplify any examination of interface barriers for charge transport. To form discrete interfaces between organic layers we propose lamination as an alternate approach to physical vapor deposition. Transient photocurrent measurements as a function of pressure, thickness, and electric field were performed on cells of 1,1-bis[(di-4-tolylamino)phenyl]-cyclohexane (TAPC), N,N-bis(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-4-aminobiphenyl (DMPAB), and N,N’-diphenyl-N,N’-bis(3-methylphenyl)-[1,1’-biphenyl]-4,4’-diamine (TPD). It was found that, in the range 0.8–3.0 MPa, a pressure-laminated interface between two identical materials causes no measurable perturbation to charge transport. This justifies the use of pressure lamination to study interfaces between nonidentical layers.

Charge injection at interfaces between molecularly doped polymer thin films

Charge injection between the active layers in organic semiconducting devices is a key determinant of device function. Accordingly, understanding the effect of intermixing between the layers at these interfaces is of fundamental importance. In this letter, via the use of the time-of-flight method, a comparison is made between the charge injection across discrete versus intermixed interfaces of N,N′-diphenyl-N,N′-bis(3-methylphenyl)-[1,1′-biphenyl]-4,4′-diamine and 1,1-bis((di-4-tolylamino)phenyl)-cyclohexane doped polycarbonate, semiconducting thin-film layers. No perturbation to the overall charge transport was observed with the discrete interface; however, in contrast the rate of charge transport was clearly reduced through the intermixed interface.