posted on 2021-06-23, 17:39authored byDominik
M. Schwaiger, Wiebke Lohstroh, Peter Müller-Buschbaum
The polymer dynamics inside a bulk heterojunction (BHJ), as used
in organic solar cells, are investigated with quasielastic neutron
scattering to study hydrogen motion in the polymer side chains. Different
blend ratios of the polymer
donor poly({4,8-bis[(2-ethylhexyl)oxy]benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]dithiophene-2,6-diyl}{3-fluoro-2-[(2-ethylhexyl)carbonyl]thieno[3,4-b]thiophenediyl}) (PTB7) and the small molecule acceptor
[6,6]phenyl-C71-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) are investigated.
In addition, the influence of performance-enhancing measures, such
as the use of the solvent additive 1,8-diiodooctane (DIO) and the
post-production treatment of the BHJ films with methanol, on the polymer
dynamics is studied. The analysis of mean square displacements as
well as relaxation times of diffusional motions of the hydrogen atoms,
located mainly in the polymer side chains, shows a gradual stiffening
of the PTB7 side chains for higher PCBM loading in the BHJ films.
The presence of DIO significantly increases diffusive mobility inside
the films, while the methanol treatment does not affect hydrogen motions.