Effect of crystallization on the electronic energy levels and thin film morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends

Wing C. Tsoi; Steve J. Spencer; Li Yang; Amy M. Ballantyne; Patrick G. Nicholson; Alan Turnbull; Alex G. Shard; Craig E. Murphy; Donal D.C. Bradley; Jenny Nelson; Ji Seon Kim

doi:10.1021/ma102841e

Effect of crystallization on the electronic energy levels and thin film morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends

Wing C. Tsoi, Steve J. Spencer, Li Yang, Amy M. Ballantyne, Patrick G. Nicholson, Alan Turnbull, Alex G. Shard, Craig E. Murphy, Donal D.C. Bradley, Jenny Nelson, Ji Seon Kim

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

235 Scopus citations

Abstract

We study thin films of semi-crystalline regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) and amorphous regiorandom P3HT (RRa-P3HT) in blends with [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Ultraviolet and (angle-resolved) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques together with absorption, photoluminescence and optical microscopy were used to measure electronic energy levels, vertical chemical compositions and optical properties of these films. We find that ordering the P3HT chains raises the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of P3HT thin films (reducing ionization potential) and that the ordering of P3HT chains occurs preferentially at the film-air interface in RR-P3HT:PCBM thin films. This leads to a vertical phase separation between P3HT and PCBM molecules, which may be undesirable for conventional P3HT:PCBM solar cells. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

Original language	English (US)
Journal	Macromolecules
Volume	44
Issue number	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/ma102841e
State	Published - Apr 26 2011
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Effect of crystallization on the electronic energy levels and thin film morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends",

abstract = "We study thin films of semi-crystalline regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) and amorphous regiorandom P3HT (RRa-P3HT) in blends with [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Ultraviolet and (angle-resolved) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques together with absorption, photoluminescence and optical microscopy were used to measure electronic energy levels, vertical chemical compositions and optical properties of these films. We find that ordering the P3HT chains raises the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of P3HT thin films (reducing ionization potential) and that the ordering of P3HT chains occurs preferentially at the film-air interface in RR-P3HT:PCBM thin films. This leads to a vertical phase separation between P3HT and PCBM molecules, which may be undesirable for conventional P3HT:PCBM solar cells. {\textcopyright} 2011 American Chemical Society.",

author = "Tsoi, {Wing C.} and Spencer, {Steve J.} and Li Yang and Ballantyne, {Amy M.} and Nicholson, {Patrick G.} and Alan Turnbull and Shard, {Alex G.} and Murphy, {Craig E.} and Bradley, {Donal D.C.} and Jenny Nelson and Kim, {Ji Seon}",

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doi = "10.1021/ma102841e",

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volume = "44",

journal = "Macromolecules",

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T1 - Effect of crystallization on the electronic energy levels and thin film morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends

AU - Tsoi, Wing C.

AU - Spencer, Steve J.

AU - Yang, Li

AU - Ballantyne, Amy M.

AU - Nicholson, Patrick G.

AU - Turnbull, Alan

AU - Shard, Alex G.

AU - Murphy, Craig E.

AU - Bradley, Donal D.C.

AU - Nelson, Jenny

AU - Kim, Ji Seon

N1 - Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2019-11-27

PY - 2011/4/26

Y1 - 2011/4/26

N2 - We study thin films of semi-crystalline regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) and amorphous regiorandom P3HT (RRa-P3HT) in blends with [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Ultraviolet and (angle-resolved) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques together with absorption, photoluminescence and optical microscopy were used to measure electronic energy levels, vertical chemical compositions and optical properties of these films. We find that ordering the P3HT chains raises the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of P3HT thin films (reducing ionization potential) and that the ordering of P3HT chains occurs preferentially at the film-air interface in RR-P3HT:PCBM thin films. This leads to a vertical phase separation between P3HT and PCBM molecules, which may be undesirable for conventional P3HT:PCBM solar cells. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

AB - We study thin films of semi-crystalline regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (RR-P3HT) and amorphous regiorandom P3HT (RRa-P3HT) in blends with [6,6]-phenyl C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Ultraviolet and (angle-resolved) X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy techniques together with absorption, photoluminescence and optical microscopy were used to measure electronic energy levels, vertical chemical compositions and optical properties of these films. We find that ordering the P3HT chains raises the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy level of P3HT thin films (reducing ionization potential) and that the ordering of P3HT chains occurs preferentially at the film-air interface in RR-P3HT:PCBM thin films. This leads to a vertical phase separation between P3HT and PCBM molecules, which may be undesirable for conventional P3HT:PCBM solar cells. © 2011 American Chemical Society.

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U2 - 10.1021/ma102841e

DO - 10.1021/ma102841e

M3 - Article

SN - 0024-9297

VL - 44

JO - Macromolecules

JF - Macromolecules

IS - 8

ER -

Effect of crystallization on the electronic energy levels and thin film morphology of P3HT:PCBM blends

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