Syahrul Ulum

Novel low voltage and solution processable organic thin film transistors based on water dispersed polymer semiconductor nanoparticulates

Two novel organic thin film transistor structures that combine a hygroscopic insulator with the use of water-dispersed polymer nanoparticles as the active layer are presented. In the first device structure, the semiconducting layer was fabricated from a nanoparticulate suspension of poly-(3-hexylthiophene) prepared through a mini-emulsion process using sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactant whereas a surfactant-free precipitation method has been used for the second device structure. In both cases, fully solution processable transistors have been fabricated in a top gate configuration with hygroscopic poly(4-vinylphenol) as the dielectric layer. Both device structures operate at low voltages (0 to -4V) but exhibit contrasting output characteristics. A systematic study is presented on the effect of surfactant on the synthesis of semiconducting nanoparticles, the formation of thin nanoparticulate films and, consequently, on device performance.

Modelling transport in nanoparticle organic solar cells using Monte Carlo methods

Water-based nanoparticle (NP) organic solar cells eliminate the need for harmful organic solvents during deposition. However, the core-shell NP structure should limit charge extraction resulting in poor performance. Here, we use dynamic Monte Carlo modelling to show that for optimised NP structures the core-shell character does not severely limit performance. Simulations further reveal that small NPs are more susceptible to extensive phase segregation, which diminishes charge carrier percolation pathways from the cores to the electrodes and thus inhibits charge extraction. Simulated performance behaviour was used to propose an explanation for the experimentally observed change in performance due to annealing.

High‐Performance Thin Film Transistor from Solution‐Processed P3HT Polymer Semiconductor Nanoparticles

Nanoparticulate suspensions of semiconducting polymer poly‐3‐hexylthiophene (P3HT) have been prepared in water through a mini‐emulsion process using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as the surfactant. Using these suspensions, we have fabricated organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) in a top gate configuration. These devices operate at a low voltage and show output characteristics similar to those achieved when the P3HT film is spun from chloroform. To characterize the properties of the film made from the nanoparticle suspension, differential thermal analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), atomic force microscopy (AFM), fluorescence spectra analysis, ultraviolet/visible (UV/VIS) spectrophotometry and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) have been used.

The effect of calcium-induced fullerene migration on the performance of thermally stable nanoparticle organic solar cells

The impact of a calcium interface layer in combination with a thermal annealing treatment on the performance of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT):[6,6]-phenyl-C61-buteric acid methylester (PCBM) nanoparticle photovoltaic devices is investigated. Annealing is found to disrupt the microstructure of the nanoparticle active layer leading to a reduction in fill factor. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements show that the calcium interface layer causes PCBM to preferentially migrate to the cathode interface upon annealing, resulting in better charge extraction from the PCBM moiety, an increase in the built-in voltage, open-circuit voltage, and power conversion efficiency. Moreover, the annealing trends could be completely explained by the observed PCBM migration. Unlike P3HT:PCBM bulk heterojunction devices, the P3HT:PCBM nanoparticle devices showed a remarkable thermal stability up to 120 °C. As such, OPVs fabricated from aqueous nanoparticle inks provide an attractive alternative to conventional o...