Photovoltaic devices from self-doped polymers

Qiquan Qiao, James Beck, James T. McLeskey

Research output: Contribution to journalConference Articlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

Over the last decade, conjugated polymer-based semiconductors have been developed as a novel class of photovoltaic materials that have the potential to lower costs. Solvent based polymers MEH-PPV, MDMO-PPV, P3HT, and P3OT have been reported as electron donors in photovoltaic devices. In this research, we studied the use of a water soluble polythiophene - Sodium poly[2-(3-thienyl)- ethoxy-4-butylsulfonate]) [PTEBS] in photovoltaic devices. Solar cells in the configuration of bilayer heterojunctions with TiO2 were prepared. The water-soluble polythiophene showed significant photovoltaic effect and potential for use in solar cells. The use of this polymer would allow safe, environmentally friendly processing. In addition, due to the covalent bonding of the counterion to the polymer backbone chain simultaneously with electron loss in the doping and oxidation, the water-soluble polymer PTEBS can be self-doped by acids. The appearance and absorption spectra of the self-doped solutions and films have also been investigated. New absorption bands in the ultraviolet and infrared have been observed after acidic doping offering the possibility of improved light harvesting. Experimental results have shown that the polymer can be used as the active layer in photovoltaic applications. These photovoltaic devices had an energy conversion efficiency of 0.23% and a fill factor of 0.41 under the illumination of an 80 mW/cm2 solar simulator. A simple mechanism has also been proposed to fit the open circuit voltage found in the devices.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number59380E
Pages (from-to)1-9
Number of pages9
JournalProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume5938
DOIs
StatePublished - 2005
Externally publishedYes
EventOrganic Photovoltaics VI - San Diego, CA, United States
Duration: Aug 2 2005Aug 4 2005

Keywords

  • PTEBS
  • Self-doped polymer
  • TiO
  • Water soluble polymer

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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