Invited Paper EN+AS+EM-WeA1
Towards Efficient Solution Processed Organic Photovoltaic Devices

Wednesday, November 12, 2014, 2:20 pm, Room 315

Solution-processed π–conjugated semiconductors exhibit potential in the development of low-cost, light-weight and large-area flexible plastic optoelectronics, particularly photovoltaics (OPVs). However, one drawback to current OPVs is their limited efficiency. We have explored the use of donor-acceptor (D-A) hybridization to tailor HOMO/LUMO energy levels and thus the band gap. Materials exhibiting high charge carrier mobility and strong low-energy absorption profiles have been synthesized and characterized. Coupled with materials structure, the performance of devices fabricated using polymeric semiconductors depends critically upon alignment of the polymer chains at the nano- through meso- and macro-scales. Significant structure-process-property relationships that allow for enhancement of long-range order will be discussed. For instance, a lyotropic liquid crystalline (LC) phase has been observed in poly-(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) via solvent-evaporation induced self-assembly. The lessons learned through these studies may allow for simple, controllable, and cost-effective methodologies for achieving high performance flexible plastic electronic devices.