Development of novel organic semiconductors and advanced combinatorial characterization methods for high performance, printable polymer solar cells

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Christoph J. Brabec
• Subject Area: Polymer Materials ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Synthesis and Properties of Functional Materials ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation ; Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 322714635

Organic semiconductors have an enormous potential for renewable energy applications, in particular for green photovoltaic electricity production. However, the performance, processability and stability of the current state of the art organic semiconductors are not well balanced to yield performance and environmental stability within one set of materials. Most publications report on either stable or efficient material composites. Novel materials and, even more important, novel design rules for material classes overcoming the current losses need to be developed. Most importantly, these novel design rules need to better balance the performance of organic electronic devices with their materials- and processing-related microstructure induced degradation mechanisms. This proposal targets to develop novel materials classes allowing to tackle the known microstructure induced degradation losses, enable reliable processing and to combine performance and lifetime within one composite. This synergistic research effort between SCUT and FAU targets, for the first time, developing high performance and high stability materials hand in hand. Novel material classes will be efficiently screened and explored by a combination of in-situ and high throughput testing methods. The demonstration of organic photovoltaic devices with a PCE of over 12% and excellent operational lifetime of over 10 years (measured under accelerated conditions) is the final milestone of this project.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: China
• Partner Organisation: National Natural Science Foundation of China
• Cooperation Partner: Professor Dr. Hin-Lap Yip