Combined Ultramicrotomy and Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Structure of a Bulk Heterojunction in Polymer Solar Cells
- Authors: Alekseev A.M.1,2, Al-Afeef A.3, Hedley G.J.4, Kharintsev S.S.5, Efimov A.E.6, Yedrisov A.T.1, Dyuzhev N.A.2, Samuel I.D.4
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Affiliations:
- National Laboratory Astana
- National Research University of Electronic Technology
- University of Glasgow
- University of St. Andrews
- Institute of Physics
- Federal Research Center for Transplantology and Artificial Organs
- Issue: Vol 52, No 1 (2018)
- Pages: 105-111
- Section: Fabrication, Treatment, and Testing of Materials and Structures
- URL: https://journals.rcsi.science/1063-7826/article/view/202296
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063782618010025
- ID: 202296
Cite item
Abstract
A method for visualization via atomic-force microscopy of the internal structure of photoactive layers of polymer solar cells using an ultramicrotome for photoactive layer cutting is proposed and applied. The method creates an opportunity to take advantage of atomic-force microscopy in structural investigations of the bulk of soft samples. Such advantages of atomic-force microscopy include a high contrast and the ability to measure various surface properties at nanometer resolution. Using the proposed method, samples of the photoactive layer of polymer solar cells based on a mixture of PTB7 polythiophene and PC71BM fullerene derivatives are studied. The disclosed details of the bulk structure of this mixture allow us to draw additional conclusions about the effect of morphology on the efficiency of organic solar cells.
About the authors
A. M. Alekseev
National Laboratory Astana; National Research University of Electronic Technology
Author for correspondence.
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
Kazakhstan, Astana, 010000; Moscow, 124498
A. Al-Afeef
University of Glasgow
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
United Kingdom, Glasgow, G12 8QQ
G. J. Hedley
University of St. Andrews
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
United Kingdom, Scotland, KY16 9AJ
S. S. Kharintsev
Institute of Physics
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Kazan, 420111
A. E. Efimov
Federal Research Center for Transplantology and Artificial Organs
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 123182
A. T. Yedrisov
National Laboratory Astana
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
Kazakhstan, Astana, 010000
N. A. Dyuzhev
National Research University of Electronic Technology
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
Russian Federation, Moscow, 124498
I. D. W. Samuel
University of St. Andrews
Email: alalrus@gmail.com
United Kingdom, Scotland, KY16 9AJ