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https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2013.10.025
Title: | A transition solvent strategy to print polymer:fullerene films using halogen-free solvents for solar cell applications | Authors: | Lim, G.-H. Zhuo, J.-M. Wong, L.-Y. Chua, S.-J. Chua, L.-L. Ho, P.K.H. |
Keywords: | Ink-jet printing Morphology Organic solar cells Processing Solvent effects |
Issue Date: | Feb-2014 | Citation: | Lim, G.-H., Zhuo, J.-M., Wong, L.-Y., Chua, S.-J., Chua, L.-L., Ho, P.K.H. (2014-02). A transition solvent strategy to print polymer:fullerene films using halogen-free solvents for solar cell applications. Organic Electronics: physics, materials, applications 15 (2) : 449-460. ScholarBank@NUS Repository. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.orgel.2013.10.025 | Abstract: | Inkjet printing is a mask-less non-contact deposition technique that is potentially suited for prototyping and manufacturing of thin-film polymer organic semiconductor devices from digital images. However new strategies are needed to achieve films with good macromorphology (i.e., high-fidelity footprint and uniform cross-section) and nanomorphology on unstructured substrates using a conventional ink-jet. Here we report a new transition solvent strategy to provide the desired film macromorphology and ultrafine nanomorphology in regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene):phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT:PCBM) model films, without using chlorinated solvents. This strategy employs a good volatile solvent in combination with a miscible poor solvent that is much less volatile, which is the reverse of the usual low-high boiling-point solvent method. The good solvent suppresses premature aggregation in the ink head. Its removal by evaporation on the substrate leaves the poor solvent that triggers early π-stacking ordering and/or gelation of the polymer matrix that immobilizes the printed fluid on the substrate, suppressing both contact-line depinning and evaporation-induced solvent flow effects. The resultant donor-acceptor nanomorphology is further improved by vacuum drying at an optimal rate that avoids bubble formation. We have systematically characterized P3HT:PCBM films deposited with different solvents and platen temperatures to identify key macro- and nano-morphology determining processes. High-performance printed P3HT:PCBM solar cells were realized. These findings are applicable also to other printing and coating techniques based on low-viscosity inks. © 2013 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. | Source Title: | Organic Electronics: physics, materials, applications | URI: | http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/81919 | ISSN: | 15661199 | DOI: | 10.1016/j.orgel.2013.10.025 |
Appears in Collections: | Staff Publications |
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