Mapping nanoscale variations in photochemical damage of polymer/fullerene solar cells with dissipation imaging

Phillip A. Cox, Dean A. Waldow, Torin J. Dupper, Stephen Jesse, David S. Ginger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

We use frequency-modulated electrostatic force microscopy to track changes in cantilever quality factor (Q) as a function of photochemical damage in a model organic photovoltaic system poly[[4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4, 5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl][3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3, 4-b]thiophenediyl]] (PTB7) and 3′H-cyclopropa[8,25][5,6]fullerene-C71- D5h(6)-3′-butanoic acid, 3′-phenyl-, methyl ester (PC 71BM). We correlate local Q factor imaging with macroscopic device performance and show that, for this system, changes in cantilever Q correlate well with changes in external quantum efficiency and can thus be used to monitor local photochemical damage over the entire functional lifetime of a PTB7:PC71BM solar cell. We explore how Q imaging is affected by the choice of cantilever resonance frequency. Finally, we use Q imaging to elucidate the differences in the evolution of nanoscale structure in the photochemical damage occurring in PTB7:PC71BM solar cells processed with and without the solvent additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO). We show that processing with DIO not only yields a preferable morphology for uniform performance across the surface of the device but also enhances the stability of PTB7:PC 71BM solar cells-an effect that can be predicted based on the local Q images.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)10405-10413
Number of pages9
JournalACS Nano
Volume7
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 26 2013

Funding

Keywords

  • PTB7
  • atomic force microscopy
  • dissipation imaging
  • organic solar cells
  • photo-oxidation
  • photodegradation
  • photovoltaics

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