Routes to stable organic solar cell

Organic solar cells have seen a huge resurgence since the replacement of fullerene acceptors by non-fullerene acceptors (NFA’s). With a whole zoo of different NFA’s, these have seen the power conversion efficiency reach dizzying new records. This has put this technology on the cusp of being the kind of transformative low cost mass producible way in which to make large area solar possible. 

In order to maximise these materials in working devices we must understand how the nanoscale phase separation and crystallinity in these phase separated polymer (donor) - small molecule (acceptor) blends can be tuned or rationally controlled to make much more stable devices. With the ultimate aim being to understand or predict the stability of any new blend formulation based on the mobility and diffusion of the small molecule NFA’s in the polymer donor. This is important work and will help in the advancement of the technology of stable low cost solar cells. 

This Phd project will involve using neutrons, x-rays and ion beam approaches to study the localisation, structuring and crystallinity of these blends, and so develop rational approaches that aid the design of long lived organic solar cells.