Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Controlling the surface composition of PCBM in P3HT/PCBM blend films by using mixed solvents with different evaporation rates

  • Paper
  • Published:
Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The surface composition of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and fullerene derivative [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (P3HT/PCBM) blend films could be changed by controlling the film formation process via using mixed solvents with different evaporation rates. The second solvent, with a higher boiling point than that of the first solvent and much better solubility for PCBM than P3HT, is chosen to mix with the first solvent with a lower boiling point and good solubility for both PCBM and P3HT. The slow evaporation rate of the second solvent provides enough time for PCBM to diffuse upwards during the solvent evaporation. Thus, the weight ratio of PCBM and P3HT (m PCBM/m P3HT) at surface of the blend films was varied from ca. 0.1 to ca. 0.72, i.e., it increases about seven times by changing from single solvent to mixed solvents. Meanwhile, the mixed solvents were in favor to form P3HT naonofiber network and enhance phase separation of P3HT/PCBM blend films. As a result, the power conversion efficiency of the device from mixed solvents with slow evaporation process was about 1.5 times of the one from single solvents.

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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Lee, J.Y., Zhang, Q., Emrick, T. and Crosby, A.J., Macromolecules, 2006, 39: 7392

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Mackay, M.E., Dao, T.T., Tuteja, A., Ho, D.L., Horn, B.V., Kim, H.C. and Hawker, C.J., Nat. Mater., 2003, 2: 762

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Björström, C.M., Bernasik, A., Rysz, J., Budkowski, A., Nilsson, S., Svensson, M., Andersson, M.R., Magnusson, K.O. and Moons, E., J. Phys.: Condens. Matter., 2005, 17: L529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. McGarrity, E.S., Frischknecht, A.L., Frink, L.J.D. and Mackay, M.E., Phys. Rev. Lett., 2007, 99: 238302

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Yamamoto, S., Kitazawa, D., Tsukamoto, J., Shibamori, T., Seki, H. and Nakagawa, Y., Thin Solid Film, 2010, 518: 2115

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Yu, B.Y., Lin, W.C., Wang, W.B., Iida, S.I., Chen, S.Z., Liu, C.Y., Kuo, C.H., Lee, S.H., Kao, W.L., Yen, G.J., You, Y.W., Liu, C.P., Jou, J.H. and Shyue, J.J., ACS Nano., 2010, 4: 833

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Xu, Z., Chen, L.M., Yang, G., Huang, C.H., Hou, J., Wu, Y., Li, G., Hsu, C.S. and Yang, Y., Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19: 1227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. C-Quiles, M., Ferenczi, T., Agostinelli, T., Etchegoin, P.G., Kim, Y., Anthopoulos, T.D., Stavrinou, P.N., Bradley, D.D.C. and Nelson, J., Nat. Mater., 2008, 7: 158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Parnell, A.J., Dunbar, A.D.F., Pearson, A.J., Staniec, P.A., Dennison, A.J.C., Hamamatsu, H., Skoda, M.W.A., Lidzey, D.G. and Jones, R.A.L., Adv. Mater., 2010, 22: 2444

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kiel, J.W., Kirby, B.J., Majkrzak, C.F., Maranville, B.B. and Mackay, M.E., Soft Matter., 2010, 6: 641

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. de Villers, B.T., Tassone, C.J., Tolbert, S.H. and Schwartz, B.J., J. Phys. Chem. C, 2009, 113: 18978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Jo, J., Na, S.I., Kim, S.S., Lee, T.W., Chung, Y., Kang, S.J., Vak, D. and Kim, D.Y., Adv. Funct. Mater., 2009, 19: 2398

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Arias, A.C., Polym. Rev., 2006, 46: 103

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Wei, Q., Tajima, K., Tong, Y., Ye, S. and Hashimoto, K., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2009, 131: 17597

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wei, Q., Nishizawa, T., Tajima, K. and Hashimoto, K., Adv. Mater., 2008, 20: 2211

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Germack, D.S., Chan, C.K., Kline, R.J., Fischer, D.A., Gundlach, D.J., Toney, M.F., Richter, L.J. and de Longchamp, D.M., Macromolecules, 2010, 43: 3828

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Germack, D.S., Chan, C.K., Hamadani, B.H., Richter, L.J., Fischer, D.A., Gundlach, D.J. and de Longchamp, D.M., Appl. Phys. Lett., 2009, 94: 233303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Park, H.J., Kang, M.G., Ahn, S.H. and Guo, L.J., Adv. Mater., 2010, 22: E247

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

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

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Goffri, S., Mülier, C., S-Stutzmann, N., Breiby, D.W., Ranano, C.P., Andreasen, J.W., Thompson, R., Janssen, R.A.J., Nielsen, M.M., Smith, P. and Sirringhaus, H., Nat. Mater., 2006, 5: 950

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhao, K., Ding, Z., Xue, L. and Han, Y., Macromol. Rapid Commun., 2010, 31: 532

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Wang, D.H., Lee, H.K., Choi, D.G., Park, J.H. and Park, O.O., Appl. Phys. Lett., 2009, 95: 043505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Wang, D.H., Choi, D.G., Park, O.O. and Park, J.H., J. Mater. Chem., 2010, 20: 4910

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Wang, D.H., Choi, D.G., Lee, K.J., Park, O.O. and Park, J.H., Langmuir, 2010, 26: 9584

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Liang, C.W., Su, W.F. and Wang, L., Appl. Phys. Lett., 2009, 95: 133303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Heriot, S.Y. and Jones, R.A.L., Nat. Mater., 2005, 4: 782

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Jukes, P.C., Heriot, S.Y., Sharp, J.S. and Jones, R.A.L., Macromolecules, 2005, 38: 2030

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Machui, F., Langner, S., Zhu, X., Abbott, S. and Brabec, C.J., Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells, 2012, 100: 138

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Park, C.D., Fleetham, T.A., Li, J. and Vogt, B.D., Organic Electronics, 2011, 12: 1465

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Li, L., Tang, H., Wu, H., Lu, G. and Yang, X., Organic Electronics, 2009, 10: 1334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gao, X. and Han, Y., Chinese J. Polym. Sci., 2013, 31(4): 610

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China

    Yue Sun, Jian-gang Liu, Yan Ding & Yan-chun Han  (韩艳春)

Authors
  1. Yue Sun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jian-gang Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yan Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Yan-chun Han  (韩艳春)
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan-chun Han  (韩艳春).

Additional information

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 20621401, 20834005, 51073151), and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2009CB623604).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sun, Y., Liu, Jg., Ding, Y. et al. Controlling the surface composition of PCBM in P3HT/PCBM blend films by using mixed solvents with different evaporation rates. Chin J Polym Sci 31, 1029–1037 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-013-1295-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-013-1295-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation