Water Based Inkjet Material Deposition of Donor-Acceptor Nanocomposites for Usage in Organic Photovoltaics

Abstract

ABSTRACTP3HT: PCBM nanoparticle based inks were fabricated using the miniemulsion technique [1]. The nanoparticles were characterized for their size using a quasi-elastic light scattering technique. The average diameter of P3HT:PCBM nanoparticles was found to be 52nm. The blending of the P3HT and the PCBM was tested using UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy – it was found that the blend ratio of the nanoparticle can be controlled by varying the individual concentrations of the P3HT and PCBM in chloroform ("the oil phase") of the miniemulsions. Finally the P3HT:PCBM nanoparticle inks were inkjet printed onto PEDOT:PSS coated ITO substrates to form the active layer of the organic photovoltaic cell. Aluminum cathodes were evaporated onto the printed nanoparticle active layer film to form functioning OPVs. The best power conversion efficiency for one of these devices was 0.07%.