Bulk hetero junction (BHJ) solar cells based on thienylvinylene oligomers

Research summary

The objective of the proposed collaboration is to develop new molecules for organic photovoltaics, study their properties thoroughly in solutions and bulk solid state, and to prepare bulk heterojunction (BHJ) organic solar cell with enhanced efficiency. The main goals of the project are on: i) synthesis of new thienylvinylene oligomers and polymers for organic solar cells; ii) understanding of their photophysical and photoelectrical characteristics and their function in a photo-device, iii) assembly of the photoactive materials into prototype photo-cells to gain significant enhancement in organic solar cell efficiency and stability.

Description

Consortium partners are the group of Prof. Francisco Martinez, Department of Materials Science University of Chile, and the Supramolecular Photochemistry group (SPC-group) led by prof. H. Lemmetyinen at the Department of Chemistry and Bioengineering at the Tampere University of Technology (TUT). In this consortium collaboration, the expertise of two research groups is combined to reach the top international research level.

Research collaboration between UCH and SPC/TUT is beneficial for both the partners. SPC/TUT has accumulated a large knowledge on organic solar cells manufacturing, characterization and modification (buffer layers, dopants, donor-acceptor active layers). The research group from UCH offers a novel approach to the main components (electron donor materials) of BHJ solar cells. The compounds synthesized at UCH and their solid film deposition methods such as electropolymerization complement well the SPC/TUT expertise in solar cell studies and provide new unique materials, which can be successfully used in organic photovoltaics.
The funding period is 1.1.2013–31.12.2015. The applied total funding from Academy of Finland is 438557 euros. The funding will be used to hire two experienced postdoctoral researchers at SPC/TUT and to organize scientific exchange visits between University of Chile and Tampere University of Technology.

Research info

Research title
Bulk hetero junction (BHJ) solar cells based on thienylvinylene oligomers

Research timeline
1.1.2013 - 1.12.2015

Keywords
bulk heterojunction, thienylvinylenes, heterocycles, OPV, organic solar cells, electron donor materials, time-resolved spectroscopy

Region
Latin America

Countries
Chile, Finland

Institution
Tampere University of Technology
Chemistry and Bioengineering

Head of research
Alexander Efimov

Research team
Lijo George, Zafar Ahmed

Partners
University of Chile

Contact information

Record last updated
2.2.2015