Graphene Increases Solar Cell Efficiency
Nathan Duderstadt, Stoney Sutton, and Kate Yoshino
College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Research Experience for Undergraduates, University of Cincinnati
Graduate Mentor: Ms. Yan Jin, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Vikram Kuppa
Solar Cell Fabrication and Testing Methods
Introduction
Organic Photovoltaic Devices are of special interest due to their unique physical
properties allowing for flexible panels and its mass production capabilities.
Additionally, they require fewer harmful chemicals and less precisions than inorganic,
silicon based cells.
• Aluminum and Lithium Fluoride applied
in by vapor deposition
• Active layer applied by spin coating.
• Cell (without slide) is approximately
500 nm thick
• Cells were tested for performance by
current-voltage testing.
• X-ray diffraction and UV spectrometry
tests were performed for morphology.
The problem is that organic cells are not as efficient as the inorganic cells that are
currently on the market. This project aims to address this issue and help to improve
efficiency in organic photovoltaic cells.
Data
Eff (max)
8.00E-03
6.00E-03
4.00E-03
0.025
0.05
0.1
Percentage
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Percentage of
Total Number of
Short-circuited
samples
0.025 mg/ml
0.05 mg/ml
Literature Review
Articles consulted for this project include:
•
•
•
•
•
0.1 mg/ml
Graphene Concentration (mg/mL)
•
•
Graphene Concentration vs. XRD Findings
Length (Angstroms)
0.1
• Conductivity testing showed that the increase in graphene content resulted in
increase in conductivity.
• The graphene concentration increase is limited by potential short-circuiting of the
device.
• Results show that 0.1 mg/ml graphene concentration had the highest efficiency of
concentrations tested, however, more testing is required for confirmation.
• Graphene increased cell’s efficiency by charge percolation, not improvement in
crystal size.
Percentage of
Short-circuiting
due to
Percolation
0 mg/ml
Atomic Force Microscope Image of 300 mesh Graphene solution with 0.045
mg/ml concentration.
0.05
Conclusion
Number of Short-Circuits vs Graphene Concentration
1 μm
0.025
20 mg/ml 6:4 mass ratio P3HT/F8BT polymer blend, processed in p-xylene,
Data taken from two batches both fabricated on 7/2/13.
20 mg/ml 6:4 mass ratio P3HT/F8BT polymer blend, processed in p-xylene
5 μm
• Conductivity Testing involves a simplified version of the solar cell for
finding conductivity in a more cost and time efficient way.
• This P3HT/F8BT/Graphene solutions were spin coated onto a the electrodes
and then soft baked. (Top electrode is then applied for the vertical
configuration.)
• Resistance measured per sample.
• Lastly, the thickness of each sample was measured in order to calculate
conductivity.
1.00E-02
Graphene Concentration (mg/mL)
9.00E+06
8.00E+06
7.00E+06
6.00E+06
5.00E+06
4.00E+06
3.00E+06
2.00E+06
1.00E+06
0.00E+00
0
Conductivity studies were performed to determine the appropriate graphene
concentration that will best accomplish charge percolation in the solar cells.
• Graphene was obtained by exfoliation of graphite in benzene/hexafluorobenzene
solvent via sonication for both the conductivity studies and cells. The benzene
solvent was evaporated off when graphene was added to P3HT in p-xylene
solution at varying concentrations.
Eff(all)
0
Graphene Concentration (mg/mL)
Conductivity Testing Methods
1.20E-02
0.00E+00
Mean Resistance vs Graphene Concentration,
Not Short-Circuited Samples
Resistance (Ohms)
Graphene is a two-dimensional, one atom thick layer of networked carbon that is a
promising material for organic photovoltaic devices. The main focus of this study
centers on the highly conductive nature of graphene. Graphene is to increase
percolation for charge transport at low weight fractions, therefore increasing cell
efficiency.
1.40E-02
2.00E-03
Objective
Ultimately, the goal of this project is to determine how graphene affects the
efficiency of organic solar cells.
Mean and Maximum Efficiencies vs Graphene
Concentration
Percent Efficiency
Currently, much of the world’s energy consumption comes from fossil fuels and nonrenewable energy sources, which are quickly being used up. Thus, new methods for
generating clean energy must be developed. Solar Energy is a viable option for
renewable energy with potentially low side effects.
•
•
120
•
100
•
•
80
60
Crystal Size
d-spacing
40
20
0
0
0.025
0.05
Graphene Concentration (mg/mL)
0.1
Deibel, C, and V. Dyakonov. (2010). "Polymer–fullerene Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells," Reports on Progress in Physics, IOP, Vol. 73, No. 9,
pp. 1-39.
Du, Y., et al. (2012) “Preparation and characterization of graphene nanosheets/poly(3-hexylthiophene) thermoelectric composite materials,”
Synthetic Metals, Vol. 162, pp. 2102-2106.
Kim Y. et al. (2004). "Organic Photovoltaic Devices Based on Blends of Regioregular Poly(3- hexylthiophene) and Poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-cobenzothiadiazole)," Journal of the American Chemical Society, ACS Publications, Vol. 16. pp. 4812–4818
Li,G., Yang,Y., and R. Zhu. (2012). "Polymer Solar Cells," NATURE PHOTONICS No.6, pp.153-161.
Liu,Q., et al. (2009). "Polymer Photovoltaic Cells Based on Solution-Processable Graphene and P3HT," Advanced Functional Materials Journal,
Vol. 19,No.6, pp. 894-904.
McNeill, C.R., et al. (2007).“Influence of Nanoscale Phase Separation on the Charge Generation Dynamics and Photovoltaic Performance of
Conjugated Polymer Blends: Balancing Charge Generation and Separation,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C, Vol. 111, No. 51, pp. 19153-19160.
Oyer A.J., et. al. (2012). "Stabilization of Graphene Sheets by a Structured Benzene/Hexafluorobenzene Mixed Solvent," Journal of the American
Chemical Society, ACS Publications, Vol 134. Pg 5018-5021.
Saricifti, N.S. (2001). “Plastic Solar Cells.” Abstracts of Papers of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 222, pp. U281-U281.
Shin, M., H. Kim, and Y. Kim. (2011). “Effect of film and device annealing in polymer:polymer solar cells with a LiF nanolayer,” Materials Science
and Engineering B- Advanced Functional Solid-state Materials, Vol. 176, No. 5, pp. 382-386.
Van Bavel, S.S., et al. (2010). “P3HT/PCBM Bulk Heterojunction Solar Cells: Impact of Blend Compositions and 3D Morphology on Device
Performance,” Advanced Functional Materials, Vol 20, No.9, pp. 1458-1463.
Wan, X., et al. (2011). “Graphene- A Promising Material for Organic Photovoltaic Cells,” Advanced Materials, Vol. 23, pp. 5342-5358.
Yu, D., et al. (2010). “Soluble P3HT-Grafted Graphene for Efficient Bilayer- Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices,” ACS Nano, Vol. 4, No. 10, pp.
5633-5640.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank NSF for the funding of this project under NSF Grant # DUE-0756921 for Type 1 Science,
Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Talent Expansion Program (STEP).
Special thanks also goes to Ms. Yan Jin, Dr. Vikram Kuppa, and Mr. Fei Yu for many hours of help and guidance.