Eco-friendly spray coating of organic solar cells through water-based nanoparticles ink (Presentation Recording)

Jeroen Stryckers; Lien D'Olieslaeger; Jean Manca; Anitha Ethirajan; Wim Deferme

doi:10.1117/12.2188420

5 October 2015 Eco-friendly spray coating of organic solar cells through water-based nanoparticles ink (Presentation Recording)

Jeroen Stryckers, Lien D'Olieslaeger, Jean Manca, Anitha Ethirajan, Wim Deferme

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 9561, Thin Films for Solar and Energy Technology VII; 95610B (2015) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2188420
Event: SPIE Optics + Photonics for Sustainable Energy, 2015, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Ultrasonic spray coating is currently proven to be a reliable, flexible and cost efficient fabrication method for printed electronics [1-2]. Ultrasonic nozzles are by design especially well-suited to deposit nano-suspension dispersions. Due to the ultrasonic vibration of the nozzle, droplets having a median diameter of 20 μm are created in a homogeneous droplet cloud and directed towards the substrate. When one prepares an ink having the right wetting properties, thin and homogeneous layers, fully covering the surface, can be achieved. Together with conjugated polymer nanoparticles (NPs), emerging as a new class of nanomaterials, [3] it opens possibilities towards eco-friendly roll-to-roll processing of state-of-the-art organic bulk heterojunction solar cells. A ultrasonic spray coater was used to print the conjugated polymer NP layers under different conditions. A first optimization of the spray coater settings (flow rate, spray speed and temperature) and the ink formulation (water and co-solvent mixture and NP content) was performed for polystyrene particles dissolved in a water-ethanol mixture. As a next step, the low bandgap donor polymer poly[9-(1-octylnonyl)-9H-carbazole-2,7-diyl]-2,5-thiophenediyl-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole-4,7-diyl-2,5-thiophene-diyl] (PCDTBT) [4] and the fullerene acceptor phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM[70]) were combined in a water-based blend NP dispersion which was prepared using the mini-emulsion technique. [5,6] Optical Microscopy, profilometry and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) are performed to study the roughness, surface structure, thickness and coverage of the spray coated layers. Finally the printed NP layers are integrated in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells and compared to spin coated reference devices.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

Jeroen Stryckers, Lien D'Olieslaeger, Jean Manca, Anitha Ethirajan, and Wim Deferme "Eco-friendly spray coating of organic solar cells through water-based nanoparticles ink (Presentation Recording)", Proc. SPIE 9561, Thin Films for Solar and Energy Technology VII, 95610B (5 October 2015); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2188420

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available