Thermotropic phase transition of benzodithiophene copolymer thin films and its impact on electrical and photovoltaic characteristics

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sangwon Ko - , Stanford University, Korea Railroad Research Institute (Author)
  • Do Hwan Kim - , Stanford University, Soongsil University (Author)
  • Alexander L. Ayzner - , Stanford University, University of California at Santa Cruz (Author)
  • Stefan C.B. Mannsfeld - , SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory (Author)
  • Eric Verploegen - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Alexander M. Nardes - , National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Author)
  • Nikos Kopidakis - , National Renewable Energy Laboratory (Author)
  • Michael F. Toney - , Stanford University (Author)
  • Zhenan Bao - , Stanford University (Author)

Abstract

We observed a thermotropic phase transition in poly[3,4-dihexyl thiophene-2,2′:5,6′-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene] (PDHBDT) thin films accompanied by a transition from a random orientation to an ordered lamellar phase via a nearly hexagonal lattice upon annealing. We demonstrate the effect of temperature-dependent molecular packing on charge carrier mobility (μ) in organic field-effect transistors (OFETs) and photovoltaic characteristics, such as exciton diffusion length (LD) and power conversion efficiency (PCE), in organic solar cells (OSCs) using PDHBDT. The μ was continuously improved with increasing annealing temperature and PDHBDT films annealed at 270 °C resulted in a maximum μ up to 0.46 cm2/(V s) (μavg = 0.22 cm2/(V s)), which is attributed to the well-ordered lamellar structure with a closer - stacking distance of 3.5 Å as shown by grazing incidence-angle X-ray diffraction (GIXD). On the other hand, PDHBDT films with a random molecular orientation are more effective in photovoltaic devices than films with an ordered hexagonal or lamellar phase based on current-voltage characteristics of PDHBDT/C60 bilayer solar cells. This observation corresponds to an enhanced dark current density (JD) and a decreased LD upon annealing. This study provides insight into the dependence of charge transport and photovoltaic characteristics on molecular packing in polymer semiconductors, which is crucial for the management of charge and energy transport in a range of organic optoelectronic devices.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1223-1232
Number of pages10
JournalChemistry of materials
Volume27
Issue number4
Publication statusPublished - 24 Feb 2015
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes