American Journal of Modern Physics

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Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer

Received: Jul. 03, 2015    Accepted: Jul. 09, 2015    Published: Dec. 14, 2015
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Abstract

Performance of organic solar cell (OSC) using the modification of cathode has been investigated in this research. OSC has been fabricated using the blend of P3HT (poly (3-hexylthiophene)) and PCBM (Phenyl C61 butyric acid methylester) at 1:1 ratio. E-beam evaporated indium tin oxide (ITO) has been used as the anode. A novel bi-layer of e-beam-evaporated LaF3 and Al (LaF3/Al) has been used as the cathode. The morphology of the ITO, P3HT: PCBM and LaF3 layer has been investigated by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). LaF3 layer between P3HT: PCBM and Al layer was found to influence the reverse current, open-circuit voltage and efficiency of OSC. Various thicknesses of LaF3 layer have been investigated, and 3nm thick LaF3 layer was found to be the optimum thickness for the enhancement of the various solar-cell parameters of our fabricated OSC. The effect of annealing on the performance of the cell has been also investigated. The post-fabrication annealed devices, with or without the LaF3 layer, exhibited higher values of short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage than those of similar devices annealed before depositing the Al metal. It was found that annealing at 150°C for 20 minutes provided the best result. The overall power conversion efficiency was found to enhance several times than that of the conventional structure of OSC having only Al as the cathode. Altogether the experimental results show that bi-layer of LaF3/Al cathode could enhance the overall performance of OSC.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13
Published in American Journal of Modern Physics ( Volume 4, Issue 6, November 2015 )
Page(s) 274-280
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Organic Solar Cell, P3HT: PCBM Polymer Photoactive Layer, Annealing, Bi-layer Cathode E-Beam Deposition, Thin Films, Surface Morphology, Surface Roughness, Open Circuit Voltage, Short Circuit Current

References
[1] C. J. Brabec, S. Gowrisanker, J. J. M. Halls, D. Laird, S. Jia and S. P. Williams, Polymer-fullerene bulk-heterojunction solar cells, Adv. Mater, 22 (2010) 3839-3856.
[2] M. Helgesen, R. Sondergaard and F. C. Krebs, Advanced materials and processes for polymer solar cell devices, J. Mater. Chem., 20 (2010) 36-60.
[3] J. Peet, M. L. Senatore, A. J. Heeger and G. C. Bazan, The Role of Processing in the Fabrication and Optimization of Plastic Solar Cells, Adv. Mater, 21 (2009) 1521-1527.
[4] H. B. Yang, Q. L. Song, C. M. Li and Z. S. Lu, New architecture for accurate characterization of the behavior of individual sub-cells within a tandem organic solar cell, Energy Environ. Sci., 1 (2008) 389-394.
[5] T. Ameri, G. Dennler, C. Lungenschmied and C. J. Brabec, Organic tandem solar cells: A review, Energy Environ. Sci., 2 (2009) 347-363.
[6] Ching-Chun Chang, et al "Effects of cathode buffer layers on the efficiency of bulk-heterojunction solar cells", Appl. Phys. Lett, 96 (2010) 263506-263508.
[7] Tang, CW.; Albrecht, AC. “Photovoltaic effects of metal- chlorophyll-a-metal sandwich cells”J.Chem.Phys.62 .6 (1975). 2139-2149.
[8] O'Regan, B.; Gratzel, M. “A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films.” Nature 353 (1991) 737-740.
[9] C. J. Brabec, J. A. Hauch, P Schilinsky, and C. Waldauf, MRS Bull. 30, 50 (2005).
[10] R. A. J. Janssen, J. C. Hummelen, and N. S. Sariciftci, MRS Bull. 30, 33(2005).
[11] P. Peumans, A. Yakimov, and S. Forrest, J. Appl. Phys. 93, 3693 (2003).
[12] H. Spangaard and F. Krebs, "A brief history of the development of organic and polymeric photovoltaics," SOLAR ENERGY MATERIALS AND SOLAR CELLS, vol. 83, pp.125-146, (2004).
[13] Frederik et al. Polymeric Solar Cells: Materials, Design, Manufacture. DEStech Publications, Inc., Lancaster, Pennsylvania, (2010).
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  • APA Style

    Md. Shahinul Islam, Golam Saklayen, Hartmut Baerwolff, Abu Bakar Md. Ismail. (2015). Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer. American Journal of Modern Physics, 4(6), 274-280. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13

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    ACS Style

    Md. Shahinul Islam; Golam Saklayen; Hartmut Baerwolff; Abu Bakar Md. Ismail. Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer. Am. J. Mod. Phys. 2015, 4(6), 274-280. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13

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    AMA Style

    Md. Shahinul Islam, Golam Saklayen, Hartmut Baerwolff, Abu Bakar Md. Ismail. Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer. Am J Mod Phys. 2015;4(6):274-280. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13,
      author = {Md. Shahinul Islam and Golam Saklayen and Hartmut Baerwolff and Abu Bakar Md. Ismail},
      title = {Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer},
      journal = {American Journal of Modern Physics},
      volume = {4},
      number = {6},
      pages = {274-280},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmp.20150406.13},
      abstract = {Performance of organic solar cell (OSC) using the modification of cathode has been investigated in this research. OSC has been fabricated using the blend of P3HT (poly (3-hexylthiophene)) and PCBM (Phenyl C61 butyric acid methylester) at 1:1 ratio. E-beam evaporated indium tin oxide (ITO) has been used as the anode. A novel bi-layer of e-beam-evaporated LaF3 and Al (LaF3/Al) has been used as the cathode. The morphology of the ITO, P3HT: PCBM and LaF3 layer has been investigated by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). LaF3 layer between P3HT: PCBM and Al layer was found to influence the reverse current, open-circuit voltage and efficiency of OSC. Various thicknesses of LaF3 layer have been investigated, and 3nm thick LaF3 layer was found to be the optimum thickness for the enhancement of the various solar-cell parameters of our fabricated OSC. The effect of annealing on the performance of the cell has been also investigated. The post-fabrication annealed devices, with or without the LaF3 layer, exhibited higher values of short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage than those of similar devices annealed before depositing the Al metal. It was found that annealing at 150°C for 20 minutes provided the best result. The overall power conversion efficiency was found to enhance several times than that of the conventional structure of OSC having only Al as the cathode. Altogether the experimental results show that bi-layer of LaF3/Al cathode could enhance the overall performance of OSC.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Investigation on the Performance of an Organic Solar Cell by the Modification of Cathode with Lanthanum Fluoride Thin Layer
    AU  - Md. Shahinul Islam
    AU  - Golam Saklayen
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    AU  - Abu Bakar Md. Ismail
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    T2  - American Journal of Modern Physics
    JF  - American Journal of Modern Physics
    JO  - American Journal of Modern Physics
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    EP  - 280
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-8891
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20150406.13
    AB  - Performance of organic solar cell (OSC) using the modification of cathode has been investigated in this research. OSC has been fabricated using the blend of P3HT (poly (3-hexylthiophene)) and PCBM (Phenyl C61 butyric acid methylester) at 1:1 ratio. E-beam evaporated indium tin oxide (ITO) has been used as the anode. A novel bi-layer of e-beam-evaporated LaF3 and Al (LaF3/Al) has been used as the cathode. The morphology of the ITO, P3HT: PCBM and LaF3 layer has been investigated by Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). LaF3 layer between P3HT: PCBM and Al layer was found to influence the reverse current, open-circuit voltage and efficiency of OSC. Various thicknesses of LaF3 layer have been investigated, and 3nm thick LaF3 layer was found to be the optimum thickness for the enhancement of the various solar-cell parameters of our fabricated OSC. The effect of annealing on the performance of the cell has been also investigated. The post-fabrication annealed devices, with or without the LaF3 layer, exhibited higher values of short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage than those of similar devices annealed before depositing the Al metal. It was found that annealing at 150°C for 20 minutes provided the best result. The overall power conversion efficiency was found to enhance several times than that of the conventional structure of OSC having only Al as the cathode. Altogether the experimental results show that bi-layer of LaF3/Al cathode could enhance the overall performance of OSC.
    VL  - 4
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Author Information
  • Department of Applied Physics & Electronic Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

  • Department of Applied Physics & Electronic Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

  • Department of Analog & Optoelectronics, Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany

  • Department of Applied Physics & Electronic Engineering, Rajshahi University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh

  • Section