Elucidating double aggregation mechanisms in the morphology optimization of diketopyrrolopyrrole-based narrow bandgap polymer solar cells.

Gao, Jing; Chen, Wei; Dou, Letian; Chen, Chun-Chao; Chang, Wei-Hsuan; Liu, Yongsheng; Li, Gang; Yang, Yang · Adv Mater · 2014

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of a DPP-based polymer solar cell is significantly improved by using DIO or DCB as processing additives. The discovery that DCB outperforms DIO with a significantly wider solvent mixture operation window suggests different optimization mechanisms. Although both solvent mixture systems involve double aggregation processes, including a similar solution-to-film aggregation, however, two distinct solution-stage aggregations are observed: relatively amorphous polymer aggregates form in the CF-DIO solution, while more crystalline polymer aggregates form in CF-DCB solution.