The protective effect of poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA) cover layers against the degradation of π-conjugated polymers by ozone and photo-oxidation, respectively, has been investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy. The PMMA films were cast from solution at thicknesses between 20 and 100 nm on top of films of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene]. PMMA layers of more than 65 nm in thickness reduce the oxidation rate of the π-conjugated polymers under 15 ppm of ozone in the dark by more than three orders of magnitude, whereas photo-oxidation rates under dry and humid air remain unaffected. The PMMA cover layers are hardly affected by ambient ozone over thousands of hours. Calculations of ozone and oxygen fluxes through the PMMA films reveal that ozonation rates are limited by the diffusion of ozone, whereas photo-oxidation rates are not limited by the diffusion of oxygen, due to the much larger pressure gradient of the latter.

Recently, in situ characterization methods have attracted increasing attention, especially in organic photovoltaics (OPV) field, since they provide greater insight into the mechanism of film formation, thus help to identify optimized processing conditions used to process the most efficient organic bulk-heterojunction thin films. In combination with various powerful X-ray-based characterization methods, several studies observed the morphological changes under the influence of different processing conditions. In this review, we summarize the fundamentals and implementation of X-ray-based and optical characterization methods, utilized in in situ mode and introduce the reader a better overview of the information acquired from a given technique in terms of microstructure formation in OPV. While we give a chronological development of in situ characterization methods in the field of OPV, we discuss the interplay between thermodynamics of solutions and drying kinetics of different types of organic blends.

Spherical monodisperse core/shell-type nanoparticles, comprising an amorphous SiO2 core coated with a luminescent phosphor layer were synthesized by the modified Pechini processes. The sol-gel method allows covering the 50 – 500 nm core particles with different inorganic phosphor layers of about 10 nm thickness, doped with rare-earth or transition metal ions which determine the luminescent properties. Particles comprising a Zn2SiO4 shell, doped with Mn2+ ions, are not only fluorescent under UV irradiation (260 nm), but store the activation energy by trapping electrons/holes at lattice defects. This energy is released as phosphorescence in the time scale of seconds and minutes, or as photostimulated luminescence under the excitation of red light (650 nm). Traps related to these processes are different, and their concentration is affected by the preparation conditions of the particles.

A series of Ca1-xSrxS:Eu2+y mol% phosphors were synthesized with solid state reactions and with various Ca/Sr ratio and Eu2+ doping concentrations. The influences of the lattice composition and the Eu2+ doping level on photoluminescent properties were analyzed. With doping concentrations between 0.1 to 3 mol%, concentration quenching takes place leading to the decrease of luminance; the emission maxima are also red-shifted. Further, this work reports enhanced photosynthetic activities of intact spinach leaves due to spectral modification of simulated solar irradiation by one synthesized phosphor (Ca0.4Sr0.6S:Eu1 mol%). The CO2 assimilation rates of intact spinach leaves were monitored with an effective homemade photosynthesis measurement system with controlled light conditions. The phosphor could efficiently convert the photosynthetically less active green part of the solar spectrum into the red, with a broad-band red emission centered at 650 nm and a halfband-width of 68 nm, giving an excellent match with the absorption spectrum of spinach chloroplasts. By careful referencing the photon flux, we found an enhanced photosynthetic activities by about 30 % due to the emission of the phosphor.

Organic solar cells, based on polymer/fullerene-blend films, are advancing rapidly toward commercial viability. In this article, we review recent progress on two issues critical for technological applications: device photovoltaic efficiencies and processing technologies for high-throughput production. In terms of device efficiencies, we consider advances in low-bandgap polymers, film morphology, and device structure aimed at increasing efficiencies beyond 5%. We then review recent progress in developing high-throughput, solution-printing-based processes for low-cost device fabrication.

The essential cost-driving factor for the production of classical photovoltaic devices is the expensive investment in costly semiconductor processing technologies. This unfavorable cost structure has so far prohibited the technology from having a significant impact on global energy production. Nevertheless, the continued high interest in photovoltaics originates from the fact that they represent the only truly portable renewable-energy conversion technology available today. Therefore, the potential of fabricating organic photovoltaic elements on low-cost, thin plastic substrates by standard printing and coating techniques and packaged by lamination is not only intriguing, but highly attractive from a cost standpoint. In this article, we discuss the economic and technical production aspects for organic photovoltaics.

By controlling the morphology of organic and inorganic semiconductors on a molecular scale, nanoscale p–n junctions can be generated in a bulk composite. Such a composite is typically called a bulk heterojunction composite, which can be considered as one virtual semiconductor combining the electrical and optical properties of the individual components. Solar cells are one attractive application for bulk heterojunction composites. Conjugated polymers or oligomers are the favorite p-type semiconducting class for these composites, while for the n-type semiconductor, inorganic nanoparticles as well as organic molecules have been investigated. Due to the solubility of the individual components, printing techniques are used to fabricate them.

Thermal deposition of small amounts of various salts at the interface between the active layer and the aluminum cathode was shown to alter the performance of bulk heterojunction photovoltaic devices. LiF and LiBr were found to enhance the power conversion efficiency as compared to devices with no interfacial salt, but Cs and K compounds were found to severely diminish the device performance. It is suggested that the Li compounds preferentially align to produce a bulk dipole moment at the interface, whereas the Cs and K compounds do not.

We have studied the structure and growth regularities of highly ordered para-sexiphenyl (C36H26) thin films deposited by Hot Wall Epitaxy on mica. In particular, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to investigate the early growth stage of these films, in order to find the process controlling parameters. It was shown that the substrate temperature and the growth time are important parameters for control of the film morphology, in terms of the degree of anisotropy and long range order. X-ray diffraction pole figure technique and transmission electron microscopy were also used to characterize the crystallographic structure of the thicker films. We have shown that the highly ordered crystallites of para-sexiphenyl (showing needle-like morphology by AFM) are oriented with their (11 1 ) or (11 2 ) crystallographic planes parallel to the substrate surface. For each of these two orientations there are two opposite directions for growth of crystallites reflecting the two-fold symmetry of the mica surface.

Regioregular polythiophenes baring 3-(p-methoxyethoxyethoxy)-phenyl substituents (PEOPT) show high photoluminescence efficiencies. Exposing thin films of this polymer to vapors of chloroform or annealing them by heat treatment results in a red shift of the absorption maximum due to solvent or heat induced ordering which gives rise to more planar conformations. The fact, that annealed thin films of PEOPT exhibit absorption edges at relatively low energies and thus have an enhanced spectral range makes them suitable for use in photodiodes / solar cells. The photoinduced charge generation efficiency in PEOPT is significantly enhanced by the addition of a strong electron acceptor like fullerene, as observed by quenching of the luminescence and by photoinduced absorption measurements in the infrared and UV-Vis regime. The efficiency of the photoinduced charge transfer from PEOPT to a methanofullerene is found to depend on the ordering of PEOPT in thin films.

Using the ultrafast photoinduced electron transfer with long-living charge separation in the conjugated polymer/fullerene thin films, photovoltaic devices have been fabricated. The photoinduced charge separation happens with internal quantum efficiency near unity. The performance of such “bulk heterojunction” photovoltaic devices is critically dependent on the transport properties of the interpenetrating network. The influence of the variation of different donor / acceptor materials on the sample morphology is monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM), while I/V characteristics have been studied to evaluate the conversion efficiency.

Homogenous blends of a processable methanofullerene, [6,6]-Phenyl C61 - butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM), with poly (p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) made from a novel nonionic precursor route were investigated by optical spectroscopy and by photocurrent measurements. The conversion process of the precursor polymer to the PPV in the blends with PCBM was monitored by IR absorption. In composites of PPV/PCBM strong quenching of the PPV luminescence was observed. LESR (light induced electron spin resonance) and PIA (photoinduced absorption) studies confirmed the occurrence of photoinduced electron transfer from the PPV to PCBM. Photovoltaic devices made from PPV/PCBM blends showed monochromatic power conversion efficiencies of app. 0.3%. The spectral photocurrent was observed to follow the absorption profile of the PPV.

This work focuses on single - and bilayers of para - hexaphenyl (PHP) and C60 grown by Hot Wall Epitaxy. A detailed study of the growth process was performed on glass, ITO and (001)- oriented cleaved mica substrates. The ordering of the layers was investigated by X-ray diffraction, showing clear diffraction peaks for layers grown on mica. The PHP layers grown on mica show high optical anisotropy (dichroic ratios up to 14 in emission) according to the polarization dependent photoluminescence experiments. The highly ordered structure is also reflected in the surface morphology of the layer as observed by atomic force microscopy. The epitaxial growth on mica is mirrored by the main alignment of the surface structure to the orientation of the mica substrate.