Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Low bandgap alternating polyfluorene copolymers in plastic photodiodes and solar cells

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report a comparative study of plastic photodiodes using four different copolymers of fluorene, with a variation of alkyl side chain length and chemical structure. Photodiode materials are formed by blending the polymers with a fullerene derivative and spincoating the blend solution. A photovoltage of 1 V is obtained in devices, where the anode is a doped polymer and the cathode is LiF/Al. Monochromatic quantum efficiencies are better than 40% over most of the absorption range, and under solar light AM 1.5 simulation, we reach energy efficiencies beyond 2%. The high fill factors obtained in some of the devices indicate that these are of interest for more elaborate optimisation. Reasons for the benign electrical transport are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J.J.M. Halls, C.A. Walsh, N.C. Greenham, E.A. Marseglia, R.H. Friend, S.C. Moratti, A.B. Holmes: Nature 376, 498 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. G. Yu, J. Gao, J.C. Hummelen, F. Wudl, A.J. Heeger: Science 270, 1789 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. C.J. Brabec, N.S. Sariciftci, J.C. Hummelen: Advanced Functional Materials 11, 15 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. B. Oregan, M. Gratzel: Nature 353, 737 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. U. Bach, D. Lupo, P. Comte, J.E. Moser, F. Weissortel, J. Salbeck, H. Spreitzer, M. Gratzel: Nature 395, 583 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. P.A. van Hal, M.M. Wienk, J.M. Kroon, W.J.H. Verhees, L.H. Slooff, W.J.H. van Gennip, P. Jonkheijm, R.A.J. Janssen: Adv. Mater. 15, 118 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. N.S. Sariciftci, L. Smilowitz, A.J. Heeger, F. Wudl: Science 258, 1474 (1992)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. K. Yoshino, X.H. Yin, T. Akashi, K. Yoshimoto, S. Morita, A.A. Zakhidov: Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst. 255, 197 (1994)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Svensson, F. Zhang, S.C. Veenstra, W.J.H. Verhees, J.C. Hummelen, J.M. Kroon, O. Inganäs, M.R. Andersson: Adv. Mater. 15, 988 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. R. Pacios, D.D.C. Bradley, J. Nelson, C.J. Brabec: Synth. Met.137, 1469 (2003)

    Google Scholar 

  11. M.T. Bernius, M. Inbasekaran, J. O’Brien, W.S. Wu: Adv. Mater. 12, 1737 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. Fukuda, K. Sawada, K. Yoshino: J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 31, 2465 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Q.B. Pei, Y. Yang: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 7416 (1996)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. M. Leclerc: J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 39, 2867 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. J.J.M. Halls, A.C. Arias, J.D. MacKenzie, W.S. Wu, M. Inbasekaran, E.P. Woo, R.H. Friend: Adv. Mater. 12, 498 (2000)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. C.M. Ramsdale, J.A. Barker, A.C. Arias, J.D. MacKenzie, R.H. Friend, N.C. Greenham: J. Appl. Phys. 92, 4266 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. C.M. Ramsdale, I.C. Bache, J.D. MacKenzie, D.S. Thomas, A.C. Arias, A.M. Donald, R.H. Friend, N.C. Greenham: Physica E 14, 268 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. D.M. Russell, A.C. Arias, R.H. Friend, C. Silva, C. Ego, A.C. Grimsdale, K. Mullen: Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 2204 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. H.J. Snaith, A.C. Arias, A.C. Morteani, C. Silva, R.H. Friend: Nano Letters 2, 1353 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. R. Stevenson, A.C. Arias, C. Ramsdale, J.D. MacKenzie, D. Richards: Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 2178 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. R. Stevenson, R.G. Milner, D. Richards, A.C. Arias, J.D. Mackenzie, J.J.M. Halls, R.H. Friend, D.J. Kang, M. Blamire: J. Microsc. 202, 433 (2001)

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  22. A.C. Arias, N. Corcoran, M. Banach, R.H. Friend, J.D. MacKenzie, W.T.S. Huck: Appl. Phys. Lett. 80, 1695 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. A.C. Arias, J.D. MacKenzie, R. Stevenson, J.J.M. Halls, M. Inbasekaran, E.P. Woo, D. Richards, R.H. Friend: Macromolecules 34, 6005 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. H. Sirringhaus, R.J. Wilson, R.H. Friend, M. Inbasekaran, W. Wu, E.P. Woo, M. Grell, D.D.C. Bradley: Appl. Phys. Lett. 77, 406 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. M. Grell, D.D.C. Bradley, M. Inbasekaran, E.P. Woo: Adv. Mater. 9, 798 (1997)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. A.J. Campbell, D.D.C. Bradley, H. Antoniadis: Appl. Phys. Lett. 79, 2133 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. J.C. Hummelen, B.W. Knight, F. Lepeq, F. Wudl, J. Yao, C.L. Wilkins: J. Org. Chem. 60, 532 (1995)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. C.J. Brabec, A. Cravino, D. Meissner, N.S. Sariciftci, M.T. Rispens, L. Sanchez, J.C. Hummelen, T. Fromherz: Thin Solid Films 403, 368 (2002)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. C.J. Brabec, A. Cravino, D. Meissner, N.S. Sariciftci, T. Fromherz, M.T. Rispens, L. Sanchez, J.C. Hummelen: Adv. Func. Mater. 11, 374 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomolecular and organic electronics, IFM, Linköpings Universitet, 58183, Linköping, Sweden

    O. Inganäs, F. Zhang, A. Gadisa, N.K. Persson & X. Wang

  2. Materials and Surface Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Göteborg, Sweden

    M. Svensson & M.R. Andersson

Authors
  1. O. Inganäs
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Svensson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. F. Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Gadisa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N.K. Persson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. X. Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M.R. Andersson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to O. Inganäs.

Additional information

PACS

73.50.Pz; 73.61.Ph

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Inganäs, O., Svensson, M., Zhang, F. et al. Low bandgap alternating polyfluorene copolymers in plastic photodiodes and solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 79, 31–35 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-003-2498-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-003-2498-5

Keywords

Search

Navigation