Abstract
In this work we report fabrication and characterization of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bilayer structures on graphene and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Through careful control of the PCBM solution concentration (from 0.1 to 2 mg ml−1) and the deposition conditions, we demonstrate that PCBM molecules self-assemble into bilayer structures on graphene and HOPG substrates. Interestingly, the PCBM bilayers are formed with two distinct heights on HOPG, but only one unique representative height on graphene. At elevated annealing temperatures, edge diffusion allows neighboring vacancies to merge into a more ordered structure. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the first experimental realization of PCBM bilayer structures on graphene. This work could provide valuable insight into fabrication of new hybrid, ordered structures for applications to organic solar cells.
Highlights
In the past several decades, organic solar cells have attracted tremendous scientific and industrial interest because their power conversion efficiency has dramatically increased and reached about 14% to date [1,2,3]
In this work we report fabrication and characterization of phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) bilayer structures on graphene and highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG)
Through careful control of the PCBM solution concentration and the deposition conditions, we demonstrate that PCBM molecules self-assemble into bilayer structures on graphene and HOPG substrates
Summary
In the past several decades, organic solar cells have attracted tremendous scientific and industrial interest because their power conversion efficiency has dramatically increased and reached about 14% to date [1,2,3]. An organic solar cell generates electric current through photon-induced electron transfer that separates electrons from holes [5]. Function of a solar cell depends on materials serving as electron donor and electron acceptor, respectively.
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