Article, 2016

Comparison of the electron work function, hole concentration and exciton diffusion length for P3HT and PT prepared by thermal or acid cleavage

Solid-State Electronics, ISSN 1879-2405, 0038-1101, Volume 116, Pages 111-118, 10.1016/j.sse.2015.11.002

Contributors

Toušek, Jiří 0000-0002-7689-662X (Corresponding author) [1] Toušková, Jana 0000-0001-7877-5074 [1] Ludvík, Jir Í 0000-0003-1902-7097 [2] Liška, Alan 0000-0001-7107-6094 [1] [2] Remes, Zdenek 0000-0002-3512-9256 [3] Kylián, Ondřej 0000-0001-6115-3471 [1] Kousal, Jaroslav 0000-0002-0574-918X [1] Chomutová, R [1] Heckler, Ilona Maria [4] Bundgaard, Eva 0000-0003-3244-5779 [4] Krebs, Frederik Christian 0000-0003-1148-4314 [4]

Affiliations

  1. [1] Charles University
    2. [NORA names: Czechia; Europe, EU; OECD];
  2. [2] J. Heyrovsky Institute of Physical Chemistry
    3. [NORA names: Czechia; Europe, EU; OECD];
  3. [3] Institute of Physics
    4. [NORA names: Czechia; Europe, EU; OECD];
  4. [4] Technical University of Denmark
    5. [NORA names: DTU Technical University of Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

The electron work function, hole concentration and diffusion length were compared for poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer (P3HT) that is commonly used for construction of solar cells, and two types of native polythiophene (PT) samples which are prospective candidates for this purpose. The polythiophene samples were prepared from 2 different precursors by thermal or chemical treatment at room temperature. Cyclic voltammetry and work function measurements were used for estimating the concentration of holes. The measured data were evaluated assuming the validity of band theory based on the tight-binding model. Published data on the valence bandwidth were used for calculating the value of the overlap integral which is related to the hole effective mass. Energy band diagrams were constructed for all 3 materials. Finally, the exciton diffusion length, which is a critical parameter for the application of conjugated polymer materials in solar cells, was measured by a modified surface photovoltage method. The approach allowed us to identify the differences in the material properties related to the processing method. Morphology of the samples determined by AFM was another tool showing these differences. It is stated that a native polythiophene prepared by treatment with acids is a prospective material for solar cells and shows a similar quality as that produced by a thermal process.

Keywords

AFM, P3HT, acid, acid cleavage, applications, band diagram, band theory, bandwidth, cells, chemical treatment, cleavage, comparison, concentration, concentration of holes, construction, construction of solar cells, cyclic voltammetry, data, diagram, differences, diffusion, diffusion length, effective mass, electron, electron work function, energy, energy band diagram, exciton diffusion length, function, function measurements, hole concentration, hole effective mass, holes, length, mass, material properties, materials, measured data, measurements, method, model, morphology, native polythiophene, overlap, parameters, photovoltage method, poly(3-hexylthiophene, poly(3-hexylthiophene) polymer, polymer, polymer materials, polythiophene, polythiophene samples, precursor, process, processing methods, properties, prospective material, published data, quality, room, room temperature, samples, solar cells, surface photovoltage method, temperature, theory, thermal processing, tight-binding model, tools, treatment, valence, valence bandwidth, validity, voltammetry, work, work function, work function measurements

Funders

  • Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science
  • Czech Science Foundation
  • The Velux Foundations

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