Modelling Charge Transport for Organic Solar Cells within Marcus Theory

Modelling Charge Transport for Organic Solar Cells within Marcus Theory PDF Author: Riccardo Volpi
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
ISBN: 9176856194
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 66

Get Book Here

Book Description
With the technological advancement of modern society, electronic devices are getting progressively more integrated in our everyday lives. Their continuouslygrowing presence is generating numerous concerns about costs, efficiency and the environmental impact of the electronic waste. In this context, organic electronics is finding its way through the market, allowing for potentially low-cost, light, flexible, transparent and environmentally friendly electronics. Despite the numerous successes of organic electronics, the functioning of several categories of organic devices still represents a technological challenge, due to problems like low efficiencies and stabilities (degradation over time). Organic devices are composed by one or more organic materials depending on the particular application. The conformation and electronic structure of the organic molecules as well as their supramolecular arrangement in the single phase or at the interface are known to strongly a affect the mobility and/or the efficiency of the device. While there is consensus on the fundamental physics of organic devices, we still lack a detailed comprehensive theory able to fully explain experimental data. In this thesis we focus on trying to expand our knowledge of charge transport in organic materials through theoretical modelling and simulation of organic electronic devices. While the methodology developed is generally valid for any organic device, we will particularly focus on the case represented by organic photovoltaics. The morphology of the system is obtained by molecular dynamics simulations. Marcus theory is used to calculate the hopping rate of the charge carriers and subsequently study the possibility of free charge carriers production in an organic solar cell. The theory is then compared both with Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and with experiments to identify the main pitfalls of the actual theory and ways to improve it. The Marcus rate between two molecules depends on the molecular orbital energies, the transfer integral between the two molecules and the reorganization energy. The orbital energies and the transfer integrals between two neighbouring molecules are obtained through quantum mechanical calculations in vacuum. Electrostatic effects of the environment are included through atomic charges and atomic polarizabilities, producing a correction both to the orbital energy and to the reorganization energy. We have studied several systems in the single phase (polyphenylene vinylene, C60, PC61BM) and at the interface between two organic materials (anthracene/C60, TQ1/PC71BM). We show how a combination of different methodologies can be used to obtain a realistic ab-initio model of organic devices taking into account environmental effects. This allows us to obtain qualitative agreement with experimental data of mobility in the single phase and to determine whether or not two materials are suitable to be used together in an organic solar cell.

Modelling Charge Transport for Organic Solar Cells within Marcus Theory

Modelling Charge Transport for Organic Solar Cells within Marcus Theory PDF Author: Riccardo Volpi
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
ISBN: 9176856194
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 66

Get Book Here

Book Description
With the technological advancement of modern society, electronic devices are getting progressively more integrated in our everyday lives. Their continuouslygrowing presence is generating numerous concerns about costs, efficiency and the environmental impact of the electronic waste. In this context, organic electronics is finding its way through the market, allowing for potentially low-cost, light, flexible, transparent and environmentally friendly electronics. Despite the numerous successes of organic electronics, the functioning of several categories of organic devices still represents a technological challenge, due to problems like low efficiencies and stabilities (degradation over time). Organic devices are composed by one or more organic materials depending on the particular application. The conformation and electronic structure of the organic molecules as well as their supramolecular arrangement in the single phase or at the interface are known to strongly a affect the mobility and/or the efficiency of the device. While there is consensus on the fundamental physics of organic devices, we still lack a detailed comprehensive theory able to fully explain experimental data. In this thesis we focus on trying to expand our knowledge of charge transport in organic materials through theoretical modelling and simulation of organic electronic devices. While the methodology developed is generally valid for any organic device, we will particularly focus on the case represented by organic photovoltaics. The morphology of the system is obtained by molecular dynamics simulations. Marcus theory is used to calculate the hopping rate of the charge carriers and subsequently study the possibility of free charge carriers production in an organic solar cell. The theory is then compared both with Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and with experiments to identify the main pitfalls of the actual theory and ways to improve it. The Marcus rate between two molecules depends on the molecular orbital energies, the transfer integral between the two molecules and the reorganization energy. The orbital energies and the transfer integrals between two neighbouring molecules are obtained through quantum mechanical calculations in vacuum. Electrostatic effects of the environment are included through atomic charges and atomic polarizabilities, producing a correction both to the orbital energy and to the reorganization energy. We have studied several systems in the single phase (polyphenylene vinylene, C60, PC61BM) and at the interface between two organic materials (anthracene/C60, TQ1/PC71BM). We show how a combination of different methodologies can be used to obtain a realistic ab-initio model of organic devices taking into account environmental effects. This allows us to obtain qualitative agreement with experimental data of mobility in the single phase and to determine whether or not two materials are suitable to be used together in an organic solar cell.

Modelling and Design of Nanostructured Optoelectronic Devices

Modelling and Design of Nanostructured Optoelectronic Devices PDF Author: Jagdish A. Krishnaswamy
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 9811906076
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 293

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book approaches the design of functionally superior optoelectronic devices through the use of bio-inspired nanostructures and multiscale material structures through a step-by-step approach. The book combines both the fundamental theoretical concepts involved in understanding and numerically modelling optoelectronic devices and the application of such methods in addressing challenging research problems in nanostructured optoelectronic design and fabrication. The book offers comprehensive content in optoelectronic materials and engineering and can be used as a reference material by researchers in nanostructured optoelectronic design.

Organic Solar Cells

Organic Solar Cells PDF Author: Wolfgang Tress
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3319100971
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 474

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book covers in a textbook-like fashion the basics or organic solar cells, addressing the limits of photovoltaic energy conversion and giving a well-illustrated introduction to molecular electronics with focus on the working principle and characterization of organic solar cells. Further chapters based on the author’s dissertation focus on the electrical processes in organic solar cells by presenting a detailed drift-diffusion approach to describe exciton separation and charge-carrier transport and extraction. The results, although elaborated on small-molecule solar cells and with focus on the zinc phthalocyanine: C60 material system, are of general nature. They propose and demonstrate experimental approaches for getting a deeper understanding of the dominating processes in amorphous thin-film based solar cells in general. The main focus is on the interpretation of the current-voltage characteristics (J-V curve). This very standard measurement technique for a solar cell reflects the electrical processes in the device. Comparing experimental to simulation data, the author discusses the reasons for S-Shaped J-V curves, the role of charge carrier mobilities and energy barriers at interfaces, the dominating recombination mechanisms, the charge carrier generation profile, and other efficiency-limiting processes in organic solar cells. The book concludes with an illustrative guideline on how to identify reasons for changes in the J-V curve. This book is a suitable introduction for students in engineering, physics, material science, and chemistry starting in the field of organic or hybrid thin-film photovoltaics. It is just as valuable for professionals and experimentalists who analyze solar cell devices.

Handbook of Materials Modeling

Handbook of Materials Modeling PDF Author: Sidney Yip
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1402032862
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 2903

Get Book Here

Book Description
The first reference of its kind in the rapidly emerging field of computational approachs to materials research, this is a compendium of perspective-providing and topical articles written to inform students and non-specialists of the current status and capabilities of modelling and simulation. From the standpoint of methodology, the development follows a multiscale approach with emphasis on electronic-structure, atomistic, and mesoscale methods, as well as mathematical analysis and rate processes. Basic models are treated across traditional disciplines, not only in the discussion of methods but also in chapters on crystal defects, microstructure, fluids, polymers and soft matter. Written by authors who are actively participating in the current development, this collection of 150 articles has the breadth and depth to be a major contributor toward defining the field of computational materials. In addition, there are 40 commentaries by highly respected researchers, presenting various views that should interest the future generations of the community. Subject Editors: Martin Bazant, MIT; Bruce Boghosian, Tufts University; Richard Catlow, Royal Institution; Long-Qing Chen, Pennsylvania State University; William Curtin, Brown University; Tomas Diaz de la Rubia, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Nicolas Hadjiconstantinou, MIT; Mark F. Horstemeyer, Mississippi State University; Efthimios Kaxiras, Harvard University; L. Mahadevan, Harvard University; Dimitrios Maroudas, University of Massachusetts; Nicola Marzari, MIT; Horia Metiu, University of California Santa Barbara; Gregory C. Rutledge, MIT; David J. Srolovitz, Princeton University; Bernhardt L. Trout, MIT; Dieter Wolf, Argonne National Laboratory.

Scalable Interactive Visualization

Scalable Interactive Visualization PDF Author: Achim Ebert
Publisher: MDPI
ISBN: 3038428035
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 245

Get Book Here

Book Description
This book is a printed edition of the Special Issue "Scalable Interactive Visualization" that was published in Informatics

Multiscale Modelling of Organic and Hybrid Photovoltaics

Multiscale Modelling of Organic and Hybrid Photovoltaics PDF Author: David Beljonne
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 3662438747
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 407

Get Book Here

Book Description
The series Topics in Current Chemistry presents critical reviews of the present and future trends in modern chemical research. The scope of coverage is all areas of chemical science including the interfaces with related disciplines such as biology, medicine and materials science. The goal of each thematic volume is to give the non-specialist reader, whether in academia or industry, a comprehensive insight into an area where new research is emerging which is of interest to a larger scientific audience. Each review within the volume critically surveys one aspect of that topic and places it within the context of the volume as a whole. The most significant developments of the last 5 to 10 years are presented using selected examples to illustrate the principles discussed. The coverage is not intended to be an exhaustive summary of the field or include large quantities of data, but should rather be conceptual, concentrating on the methodological thinking that will allow the non-specialist reader to understand the information presented. Contributions also offer an outlook on potential future developments in the field. Review articles for the individual volumes are invited by the volume editors. Readership: research chemists at universities or in industry, graduate students.

Nanostructured Conductive Polymers

Nanostructured Conductive Polymers PDF Author: Ali Eftekhari
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119956544
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 740

Get Book Here

Book Description
Providing a vital link between nanotechnology and conductive polymers, this book covers advances in topics of this interdisciplinary area. In each chapter, there is a discussion of current research issues while reviewing the background of the topic. The selection of topics and contributors from around the globe make this text an outstanding resource for researchers involved in the field of nanomaterials or polymer materials design. The book is divided into three sections: From Conductive Polymers to Nanotechnology, Synthesis and Characterization, and Applications.

Non-Equilibrium Charge Motion in Organic Solar Cells

Non-Equilibrium Charge Motion in Organic Solar Cells PDF Author: Armantas Melianas
Publisher: Linköping University Electronic Press
ISBN: 9176855635
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 101

Get Book Here

Book Description
Organic photovoltaic (OPV) devices based on semiconducting polymers and small molecules allow for a low cost alternative to inorganic solar cells. Recent developments show power conversion efficiencies as high as 10-12%, highlighting the potential of this technology. Nevertheless, further improvements are necessary to achieve commercialization. To a large extent the performance of these devices is dictated by their ability to extract the photo-generated charge, which is related to the charge carrier mobility. Various time-resolved and steady-state techniques are available to probe the charge carrier mobility in OPVs but often lead to different mobility values for one and the same system. Despite such conflicting observations it is generally assumed that charge transport in OPV devices can be described by well-defined charge carrier mobilities, typically obtained using a single steady-state technique. This thesis shows that the relevance of such well-defined mobilities for the charge separation and extraction processes is very limited. Although different transient techniques probe different time scales after photogeneration, they are mutually consistent as they probe the same physical mechanism governing charge motion – gradual thermalization of the photo-generated carriers in the disorder broadened density of states (DOS). The photo-generated carriers gradually lose their excess energy during transport to the extracting electrodes, but not immediately. Typically not all excess energy is dissipated as the photo-generated carriers tend to be extracted from the OPV device before reaching quasi-equilibrium. Carrier motion is governed by thermalization, leading to a time-dependent carrier mobility that is significantly higher than the steady-state mobility. This picture is confirmed by several transient techniques: Time-resolved Terahertz Spectroscopy (TRTS), Time-resolved Microwave Conductance (TRMC) combined with Transient Absorption (TA), electrical extraction of photo-induced charges (photo-CELIV). The connection between transient and steady-state mobility measurements (space-charge limited conductivity, SCLC) is described. Unification of transient opto-electric techniques to probe charge motion in OPVs is presented. Using transient experiments the distribution of extraction times of photo-generated charges in an operating OPV device has been determined and found to be strongly dispersive, spanning several decades in time. In view of the strong dispersion in extraction times the relevance of even a well-defined time-dependent mean mobility is limited. In OPVs a continuous ‘percolating’ donor network is often considered necessary for efficient hole extraction, whereas if the network is discontinuous, hole transport is thought to deteriorate significantly, limiting device performance. Here, it is shown that even highly diluted donor sites (5.7-10 %) in a buckminsterfullerene (C60) matrix enable reasonably efficient hole transport. Using transient measurements it is demonstrated that hole transport between isolated donor sites can occur by long-range hole tunneling (over distances of ~4 nm) through several C60 molecules – even a discontinuous donor network enables hole transport

Developing an Analytical Model for Charge Transport in Organic Solar Cells Through Simulation of Photocurrent

Developing an Analytical Model for Charge Transport in Organic Solar Cells Through Simulation of Photocurrent PDF Author: Xinrui Zhu
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

Get Book Here

Book Description
In order to develop next-generation solar cells with higher efficiency, it is important to use charge transport mechanism in a Current-Voltage (IV) model of solar cells. Therefore, we are working on developing an analytical model for current in solar cells in which the charge transport is typically governed by traps. The devices we focus on are planar bilayer organic semiconductor solar cells, and aspects of our model have the possibility of extending to other general devices with bilayer semiconductors, including diodes and transistors. The analytical model was previously developed based on experimental work, focusing on the dark current of the solar cell. This thesis will present how we use simulation to further validate and improve our analytical model. I will introduce the basic principles of the simulation software, GPVDM, which allows us to simulate current and extract useful parameters of solar cells. Through simulation, we determine methods of correcting for series resistance and extracting the compensation voltage. We then create a new analytical equation for photocurrent, allowing us to fit the photocurrent and extract the compensation voltage. We show that this compensation voltage is proportional to the energy difference at the donor/acceptor interface. While we extended our analytical model to include photocurrent, we also identified a number of open questions and next steps to follow to continue improving and validating the model.

Organic Solar Cells

Organic Solar Cells PDF Author: Qiquan Qiao
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482229846
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 426

Get Book Here

Book Description
Current energy consumption mainly depends on fossil fuels that are limited and can cause environmental issues such as greenhouse gas emissions and global warming. These factors have stimulated the search for alternate, clean, and renewable energy sources. Solar cells are some of the most promising clean and readily available energy sources. Plus, the successful utilization of solar energy can help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels. Recently, organic solar cells have gained extensive attention as a next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their light weight, mechanical flexibility, and solution-based cost-effective processing. Organic Solar Cells: Materials, Devices, Interfaces, and Modeling provides an in-depth understanding of the current state of the art of organic solar cell technology. Encompassing the full spectrum of organic solar cell materials, modeling and simulation, and device physics and engineering, this comprehensive text: Discusses active layer, interfacial, and transparent electrode materials Explains how to relate synthesis parameters to morphology of the photoactive layer using molecular dynamics simulations Offers insight into coupling morphology and interfaces with charge transport in organic solar cells Explores photoexcited carrier dynamics, defect states, interface engineering, and nanophase separation Covers inorganic–organic hybrids, tandem structure, and graphene-based polymer solar cells Organic Solar Cells: Materials, Devices, Interfaces, and Modeling makes an ideal reference for scientists and engineers as well as researchers and students entering the field from broad disciplines including chemistry, material science and engineering, physics, nanotechnology, nanoscience, and electrical engineering.