Effect of Micro/Nanostructured P3HT:PCBM Surfaces on the Performance of Organic Photovoltaic Devices

Abstract

In this study, the effect of periodic patterned micro/nanostructures on the active layers of thin-film organic photovoltaics (OPVs) was investigated to improve the device performance. The patterned active layer structures were fabricated by a nanoimprinting technique using different templates, including compact disc recordable (CD-R), Blu-ray disc recordable (BD-R), nanowell arrays, nanodot arrays, and honeycomb structures. The OPVs consisted of Al/nanostructured P3HT:PCBM/PEDOT:PSS/ITO. Compared with a flat reference OPV, all the micro/nanostructured OPVs exhibited higher performances, originating from enhanced light absorption due to light scattering and surface plasmon excitation at the patterned Al/P3HT:PCBM interfaces.

Keywords:

• organic polymer solar cell
• nanoimprinted
• grating structure
• nanostructure

Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP17F17361 and JP17H03231. A template of honeycomb structure was provided by Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corporation. T.P. and K.O. would like to thank the supports from the Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry (PERCH-CIC), Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, and Graduate School, Chiang Mai University. K.O. wishes to thank Center of Excellence in Materials Science and Technology, Chiang Mai University for support under the administration of Materials Science Research Center, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University. S. Nootchanat would like to thank Development and Promotion of Science and Technology Talents Project (DPST, Royal Government of Thailand scholarship) and would like to express the gratefully thanks to Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for postdoctoral fellowship.