| Title | Phase Separation in Bulk Heterojunctions of Semiconducting Polymers and Fullerenes for Photovoltaics |
| Publication Type | Book Chapter |
| Year of Publication | 2014 |
| Authors | N.D. Treat, and M.L. Chabinyc |
| Editor | Johnson, MA, and TJ Martinez |
| Book Title | ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY, VOL 65 |
| Series Title | Annual Review of Physical Chemistry |
| Volume | 65 |
| Pagination | 59-81 |
| Publisher | ANNUAL REVIEWS |
| City | 4139 EL CAMINO WAY, PO BOX 10139, PALO ALTO, CA 94303-0897 USA |
| ISBN Number | 978-0-8243-1065-3 |
| ISBN | 0066-426X |
| Keywords | organic electronics |
| Abstract | Thin-film solar cells are an important source of renewable energy. The most efficient thin-film solar cells made with organic materials are blends of semiconducting polymers and fullerenes called the bulk heterojunction (BHJ). Efficient BHJs have a nanoscale phase-separated morphology that is formed during solution casting. This article reviews recent work to understand the nature of the phase-separation process resulting in the formation of the domains in polymer-fullerene BHJs. The BHJ is now viewed as a mixture of polymer-rich, fullerene-rich, and mixed polymer-fullerene domains. The formation of this structure can be understood through fundamental knowledge of polymer physics. The implications of this structure for charge transport and charge generation are given. |
| DOI | 10.1146/annurev-physchem-040513-103712 |
