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Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends

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Abstract

This paper presents a detailed study on the role of various annealing treatments on organic poly(3-hexylthiophene) and [6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester blends under different experimental conditions. A combination of analytical tools is used to study the alteration of the phase separation, structure and photovoltaic properties of the P3HT:PCBM blend during the annealing process. Results showed that the thermal annealing yields PCBM “needle-like” crystals and that prolonged heat treatment leads to extensive phase separation, as demonstrated by the growth in the size and quantity of PCBM crystals. The substrate annealing method demonstrated an optimal morphology by eradicating and suppressing the formation of fullerene clusters across the film, resulting in longer P3HT fibrils with smaller diameter. Improved optical constants, PL quenching and a decrease in the P3HT optical bad-gap were demonstrated for the substrate annealed films due to the limited diffusion of the PCBM molecules. An effective strategy for determining an optimized morphology through substrate annealing treatment is therefore revealed for improved device efficiency.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) (Project Nos. HGER28P and HGER27S).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. DST/CSIR Nanotechnology Innovation Centre, National Centre for Nano-Structured Materials, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P. O. Box 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa

    David E. Motaung, Gerald F. Malgas, Steven S. Nkosi, Gugu H. Mhlongo, Bonex W. Mwakikunga & Thomas Malwela

  2. Department of Physics, University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa

    Christopher J. Arendse & Theophillus F. G. Muller

  3. Electron Microscope Unit, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7701, South Africa

    Franscious R. Cummings

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  1. David E. Motaung
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  2. Gerald F. Malgas
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  4. Gugu H. Mhlongo
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Correspondence to David E. Motaung or Gerald F. Malgas.

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Motaung, D.E., Malgas, G.F., Nkosi, S.S. et al. Comparative study: the effect of annealing conditions on the properties of P3HT:PCBM blends. J Mater Sci 48, 1763–1778 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-012-6937-6

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