This document discusses polymeric materials used in organic solar cells. It explains that organic solar cells use organic polymers and small molecules to absorb light and transport charges. Common donor polymers mentioned include phthalocyanine and poly(3-hexylthiophene), while acceptor examples provided are perylene, perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride, phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester, and buckminsterfullerene. The document outlines the charge transfer process in organic solar cells and advantages of using polymeric materials, such as low cost and flexibility. Hazards and properties are also noted for some mentioned materials.

1. NESLİHAN YAĞMUR
23/01/2013
POLYMERIC MATERIALS FOR
ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS
1

2. Organic Photovoltaic Cells
 Organic photovoltaic
cells are solar cells
that utilize organic
polymers and small
molecules as the
active layer for light
absorption and
charge transport
http://www.solarcell.net.in/2

3. Organic Photovoltaic Cells
 Solar cells are
designed using a p-
n junction with
both n and p-type
materials such that
the free holes and
electrons flow in
opposite directions,
producing a direct
current.
http://www.solarcell.net.in/3

4. The Steps for the Charge
Transfer
1) Excitation on donor
2) Excitation delocalized on a donor-acceptor
complex
3) Charge-transfer initiated.
4) Charge separation.
4

5. Diagram of the Donor and Acceptor
5

6. Advantages of Polymeric
Materials
 Compared to silicon structures, organic materials
have several advantages:
1) Low cost of the technology
2) Possible to achieve fully flexible structures,
3) Relatively low voltages.
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7. Polymeric Materials
 Materials having a delocalized electron
system can absorb sunlight, create
photogenerated charge carriers, and transport
these charge carriers.
 Organic solar cells generally focuses either on
solution processable organic semiconducting
polymers.
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8. Donor
(P-Type)
Examples
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9. Polymeric Materials as Donor
 1. Phthalocyanine
 2. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) “P3HT”
9

10. 1. Phthalocyanine
 C32H18N8
 Molecular Mass:
514.54 g mol−1
10

11. 1. Phthalocyanine
Hazards:
 Do not breathe dust
 Avoid contact with
skin
 Avoid contact with
eyes
11

12. 1. Phthalocyanine
 Unsubstituted
phthalocyanines
strongly absorb light
between 600 and
700 nm, thus these
materials are blue or
green.
 Substitution can shift
the absorption
towards longer
wavelengths,
changing the color
from pure blue to12

13. 2. Poly(3-hexylthiophene)
“P3HT”
 (C10H14S)n
 Melting Point: 238 °C
 High molecular weight
http://www.1-material.com/node/31
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14. Acceptor
(N-Type)
Examples
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15. Polymeric Materials as Acceptor
 1. Perylene
 2. Perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic
dianhydride
“PTCDA”
 3. Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester
“PCBM”
 4. Buckminsterfullerene “C60”
15

16. 1. Perylene
 C20H12
 Molar mass: 252.31 g
mol−1
 Melting Point: 276-
279 °C
S. Güneş, H. Neugebauer, Conjugated Polymer-Based Organic Solar Cells, 2007
16

17. 1. Perylene
 The
perylene molecule
consists of
two naphthalene mole
cules connected by a
carbon-carbon bond
at the 1 and 8
positions on both
molecules.
 All of the carbon
atoms in perylene
are sp2 hybridized.S. Güneş, H. Neugebauer, Conjugated Polymer-Based Organic Solar
Cells, 200717

18. 1. Perylene
 It or its derivatives
may be carcinogenic
 Do not breathe dust
 Avoid contact with
skin
 Avoid contact with
eyes
.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perylen
e
18

19. 1. Perylene
 It has an absorption
maximum at 434 nm.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perylen
e
19

20. 2. Perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride
“PTCDA”
 C24H8O6
 Molar Mass: 392.32 g
· mol -1
 Melting Point: > 300 °
C
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21. 2. Perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride
“PTCDA”
 Harmful if swallowed
 May cause respiratory
irritation.
 Avoid breathing dust /
fume / gas / mist /
vapors / spray.
21

22. 3. Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester
“PCBM”
 C72H14O2
 Molar Mass: 910.88 g
mol−1
22

23. 3. Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester
“PCBM”
 It is a more practical
choice for an electron
acceptor when
compared with
fullerenes because of
its solubility
in chlorobenzene.
 This allows for
solution processable
donor/acceptor mixes,
a necessary property
for "printable" solar
cells.23

24. 4. Buckminsterfullerene “C60”
 C60
 Molar Mass: 720.64 g
mol−1
 Density: 1.65 g/cm3
 Melting Point:
sublimates at ~600 °C
S. Güneş, H. Neugebauer, Conjugated Polymer-Based Organic
Solar Cells, 2007
24

25. 4. Buckminsterfullerene “C60”
 The C60 molecule is
extremely stable,
being able to
withstand high
temperatures and
pressures.
S. Güneş, H. Neugebauer, Conjugated Polymer-Based Organic
Solar Cells, 2007
25

26. References
 S. Gunes, H. Neugebauer, Conjugated Polymer-
Based Organic Solar Cells, 2007
 A. Moliton1, R. Hiorns, Review of electronic and
optical properties of semiconducting π-conjugated
polymers: applications in optoelectronics, 2004
 A. Facchetti, π-Conjugated Polymers for Organic
Electronics and Photovoltaic Cell Applications,
Northwestern University, 2011
 www.wikipedia.com
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27. Thank You for Your
Attention
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