Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology

| Peer-Reviewed |

Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication

Received: 21 February 2019    Accepted: 04 April 2019    Published: 06 May 2019
Views:       Downloads:

Share This Article

Abstract

A Blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), a fullerene derivate based donor-acceptor copolymer, is one of the widely used organic solar cell materials for photon-electron conversion. Thin films were developed, characterized, and optimized for optical absorbance. Absorption spectra were measured using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. In this work, the effects of composition ratios of P3HT:PC60BM and various thicknesses was studied in ambient conditions. The P3HT:PC61BM thin film was deposited in two different composition ratio (1:1 and 1:3) and fabricated at seven different thicknesses of 20 nm, 30 nm, 35 nm, 87 nm, 98 nm, 115 nm, and 146 nm corresponding to spin coating speeds of 4000rpm, 3000rpm, 2000rpm, 1500rpm, 1250rpm, 1000rpm, and 750rpm, respectively. P3HT:PC60BM thin film composition ratio of 1:1 with thickness of 87nm shows relatively better photon absorption optical parameter than P3HT:PC60BM composition ratio of 1:3. P3HT: PC61BM solution coated at a spin speed of 1500 rpm shows a better absorption of photon energy. The results showed that the optimum thickness of the thin film is 87 nm at composition ratio of 1:1. Energy band gap values of composition ratio of 1:3 is observed to decreases with increase in spin- speed from 3.9 eV to 3.7 eV. The results can be used as a guideline for improving the design and fabrication of active layer of organic solar cells.

DOI 10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12
Published in Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology (Volume 5, Issue 1, June 2019)
Page(s) 5-10
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

Optical Transmittance, Reflectance, Absorbance, Organic Thin Film, P3HT, PCBM Blend, Bandgap Energy

References
[1] Atwater H. A., Polman A (2010). Plasmonics for improved photovoltaic devices. Nat Mater 9: 205-213.
[2] Heeger A. J. (2014). Bulk hetero junction solar cells: understanding the mechanism of operation. Adv Mater 26: 10-28.
[3] Krebs, F. C. (2009) Fabrication and processing of polymer solar cells: A review of printing and coating techniques. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells, 93, 394–412.
[4] Dyfrig M., Anthony M. H., David J. (2017).: Mixing in PCBM/P3HT bilayers, using in situ and ex situ neutron reflectivity. J. Mater. Res., Vol. 32, No. 10,
[5] Francesca M. ], Borsacchi S., Spera S., Carbonera C., Cominetti A., Geppi M. (2013) P3HT/PCBM Photoactive Materials for Solar Cells: Morphology and Dynamics by Means of Solid-State NMR J. Phys. Chem. C, 117 (1), pp 131–139 DOI: 10.1021/jp3103904.
[6] Von H. E., Dyakonov, V., Parisi, R. (2005). Study of field effect mobility in PCBM films and P3HT:PCBM blends. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cell, 87(1-4), 149-156. DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2004.06.014.
[7] Lu Y. M., Chiang C.-H., Lien-Chung Hsu S. (2014). The performance of polymer solar cells based on P3HT:PCBM after post-annealing and adding titanium dioxide nanoparticles Materials Research Innovations 18:sup3.53-102-53-105.
[8] Shang-ChouChang, Yu-JenHsiao, To-SingLi (2013). P3HT:PCBM Incorporated with Silicon Nanoparticles as Photoactive Layer in Efficient Organic Photovoltaic Devices Hindawi Publishing Corporation J Nanomaterials Volume 2013,ArticleID354035,4pages http: //dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/3.
[9] Berger P. R., Kim M. (2018); Polymer solar cells: P3HT:PCBM and beyond J. Renewable and Sustainable Energy 10, 013508 https: //doi.org/10.1063/1.5012992.
[10] Malti L. Chiali A., Sari N. C. (2016). Numerical study of electrical behavior of P3HT/PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cell X, Appl. Sol. Energy, 2016, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 122–127. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2016. April 2016, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 122–127|.
[11] Chaudhary N., Chaudhary R., Kesari J. P., Patra A.(2017). Effect of composition ratio of P3HT:PC61BM in organic solar cells: optical and morphological properties Materials Research Innovations_ Vol 22, No 5 Pages 282-286 https: //doi.org/10.1080/14328917.2017.1317061.
[12] Lee J. U., Do Kim Y., Jo J. W., Kim J. P., Won Ho Jo ( 2011). Efficiency enhancement of P3HT/PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cells by attaching zinc phthalocyanine to the chain-end of P3HT J. Mater. Chem., 21, 17209-17218 DOI: 10.1039/C1JM11563D.
[13] Hajduk B., Bednarski H., Jarząbek B., Janeczek H., Nitschke SS P. (2018). P3HT:PCBM blend films phase diagram on the base of variable-temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry Beilstein J. Nanotechnol. 2018, 9, 1108–1115, doi: 10.3762/bjnano.9.102.
[14] Lusi S , Risdiana, A. B , Annisa A , Rustam E.S , Rahmat H , Tobat P. I. Saragi, I. Kawasaki, Isao W (2015) "Study of Charge Carrier Dynamics of P3HT:PCBM Blend for Active Material Solar Cell Using Muon Spin Relaxation", Materials Science Forum, Vol. 827, pp. 168-173.
[15] Yasser A. M. I, Soga T., Jimbo T. (2012). Investigation of PCBM Concentration on the Performance of Small Organic Solar Cell: ISRN Renewable Energy International Scholarly Research Network ISRN Renewable Energy Volume 2012, Article ID 385415, 8 pages doi: 10.5402/2012/385415.
[16] Krebs F. C. Polymeric Solar Cells (2010); DEStech Publications, Inc.: Lancaster, PA, USA, 7.
[17] Dang, M. T., Hirsch, L. and Wantz, G. (2011). P3HT:PCBM, Best Seller in Polymer Photovoltaic Research. Adv. Mater.,23,3597-3602. dx.doi. org/10.1002/adma.201100792.
[18] Hussein, H.F., Shabeeb, G. M., Sh. Hashim. S. (2011). Preparation ZnO Thin Film by using Sol-gel-processed and determination of thickness and study optical properties. J. Mater. Environ. Sci. 2 (4) 423-426. http: //www.jmaterenvironsci.com.
[19] Tauc J., (1970). The Optical properties of solids (North-Holland, Amsterdam).
[20] Kumar, K. Balachandr, P. Raji (2011). Synthesis and Characterization of Nano Zinc Oxide by sol gel Spin Coating. Recent Research in Science and Technology, 3 (3): 48-52. www.recent-science.com.
Author Information
  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Kwara State University Malete, Ilorin, Nigeria

  • Department of Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, Kwara State University Malete, Ilorin, Nigeria; Department of Pure and Applied Physics, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Sunday Wilson Balogun, Yekini Kolawole Sanusi. (2019). Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication. Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology, 5(1), 5-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Sunday Wilson Balogun; Yekini Kolawole Sanusi. Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication. J. Photonic Mater. Technol. 2019, 5(1), 5-10. doi: 10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Sunday Wilson Balogun, Yekini Kolawole Sanusi. Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication. J Photonic Mater Technol. 2019;5(1):5-10. doi: 10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12,
      author = {Sunday Wilson Balogun and Yekini Kolawole Sanusi},
      title = {Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication},
      journal = {Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology},
      volume = {5},
      number = {1},
      pages = {5-10},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jmpt.20190501.12},
      abstract = {A Blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), a fullerene derivate based donor-acceptor copolymer, is one of the widely used organic solar cell materials for photon-electron conversion. Thin films were developed, characterized, and optimized for optical absorbance. Absorption spectra were measured using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. In this work, the effects of composition ratios of P3HT:PC60BM and various thicknesses was studied in ambient conditions. The P3HT:PC61BM thin film was deposited in two different composition ratio (1:1 and 1:3) and fabricated at seven different thicknesses of 20 nm, 30 nm, 35 nm, 87 nm, 98 nm, 115 nm, and 146 nm corresponding to spin coating speeds of 4000rpm, 3000rpm, 2000rpm, 1500rpm, 1250rpm, 1000rpm, and 750rpm, respectively. P3HT:PC60BM thin film composition ratio of 1:1 with thickness of 87nm shows relatively better photon absorption optical parameter than P3HT:PC60BM composition ratio of 1:3. P3HT: PC61BM solution coated at a spin speed of 1500 rpm shows a better absorption of photon energy. The results showed that the optimum thickness of the thin film is 87 nm at composition ratio of 1:1. Energy band gap values of composition ratio of 1:3 is observed to decreases with increase in spin- speed from 3.9 eV to 3.7 eV. The results can be used as a guideline for improving the design and fabrication of active layer of organic solar cells.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effect of Thickness and Composition Ratio of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) and [6,6]-Phenyl C60-Butyric Acid Methyl Ester Thin Film on Optical Absorption for Organic Solar Cell Fabrication
    AU  - Sunday Wilson Balogun
    AU  - Yekini Kolawole Sanusi
    Y1  - 2019/05/06
    PY  - 2019
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12
    T2  - Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology
    JF  - Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology
    JO  - Journal of Photonic Materials and Technology
    SP  - 5
    EP  - 10
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2469-8431
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jmpt.20190501.12
    AB  - A Blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and [6,6]-phenyl C60-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), a fullerene derivate based donor-acceptor copolymer, is one of the widely used organic solar cell materials for photon-electron conversion. Thin films were developed, characterized, and optimized for optical absorbance. Absorption spectra were measured using a UV-VIS spectrophotometer. In this work, the effects of composition ratios of P3HT:PC60BM and various thicknesses was studied in ambient conditions. The P3HT:PC61BM thin film was deposited in two different composition ratio (1:1 and 1:3) and fabricated at seven different thicknesses of 20 nm, 30 nm, 35 nm, 87 nm, 98 nm, 115 nm, and 146 nm corresponding to spin coating speeds of 4000rpm, 3000rpm, 2000rpm, 1500rpm, 1250rpm, 1000rpm, and 750rpm, respectively. P3HT:PC60BM thin film composition ratio of 1:1 with thickness of 87nm shows relatively better photon absorption optical parameter than P3HT:PC60BM composition ratio of 1:3. P3HT: PC61BM solution coated at a spin speed of 1500 rpm shows a better absorption of photon energy. The results showed that the optimum thickness of the thin film is 87 nm at composition ratio of 1:1. Energy band gap values of composition ratio of 1:3 is observed to decreases with increase in spin- speed from 3.9 eV to 3.7 eV. The results can be used as a guideline for improving the design and fabrication of active layer of organic solar cells.
    VL  - 5
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

  • Sections