In organic bulk heterojunction solar cells, the nanoscale morphology of interpenetrating donor-acceptor materials and the resulting photovoltaic parameters alter as a consequence of prolonged operation at temperatures above the glass transition temperature. Thermal annealing induces clustering of the acceptor material and a corresponding decrease in the short circuit current. A model based on the kinetics of Ostwald ripening is proposed to describe the thermally accelerated degradation of the short circuit current of solar cells with poly(2-methoxy-5-(3,7-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MDMO-PPV) as donor and (6,6)-phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) as acceptor. The activation energy for the degradation is determined by an Arrhenius model, allowing to perform shelf life prediction.

1.
H.
Spanggaard
and
F. C.
Krebs
,
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
83
,
125
(
2004
).
2.
G.
Yu
,
K.
Pakbaz
, and
A. J.
Heeger
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
64
,
3422
(
1994
).
3.
H. -Y.
Chen
,
J.
Hou
,
S.
Zhang
,
Y.
Liang
,
G.
Yang
,
Y.
Yang
,
L.
Yu
,
Y.
Wu
, and
G.
Li
,
Nat. Photonics
3
,
649
(
2009
).
4.
Y.
Liang
,
Z.
Xu
,
J.
Xia
,
S. -T.
Tsai
,
Y.
Wu
,
G.
Li
,
C.
Ray
, and
L.
Yu
,
Adv. Mater.
22
,
2010
(in press).
5.
S.
Bertho
,
I.
Haeldermans
,
A.
Swinnen
,
W.
Moons
,
T.
Martens
,
L.
Lutsen
,
D.
Vanderzande
,
J.
Manca
,
A.
Senes
, and
A.
Bonfiglio
,
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
91
,
385
(
2007
).
6.
S. E.
Shaheen
,
C. J.
Brabec
,
N. S.
Sariciftci
,
F.
Padinger
,
T.
Fromherz
, and
J. C.
Hummelen
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
78
,
841
(
2001
).
7.
T.
Munters
,
T.
Martens
,
L.
Goris
,
V.
Vrindts
,
J.
Manca
,
L.
Lutsen
,
W.
De Ceuninck
,
D.
Vanderzande
,
L.
De Schepper
,
J.
Gelan
,
N. S.
Sariciftci
, and
C. J.
Brabec
,
Thin Solid Films
403-404
,
247
(
2002
).
8.
P.
Schilinsky
,
C.
Waldauf
, and
C. J.
Brabec
,
Appl. Phys. Lett.
81
,
3885
(
2002
).
9.
G.
Li
,
V.
Shrotriya
,
J.
Huang
,
Y.
Yao
,
T.
Moriarty
,
K.
Emery
, and
Y.
Yang
,
Nat. Mater.
4
,
864
(
2005
).
10.
W.
Ma
,
C.
Yang
,
X.
Gong
,
K.
Lee
, and
A. J.
Heeger
,
Adv. Funct. Mater.
15
,
1617
(
2005
).
11.
M. D.
Irwin
,
D. B.
Buchholz
,
A. W.
Hains
,
R. P. H.
Chang
, and
T. J.
Marks
,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.
105
,
2783
(
2008
).
12.
A.
Swinnen
,
I.
Haeldermans
,
P.
Vanlaeke
,
J.
D'Haen
,
J.
Poortmans
,
M.
D'Olieslaeger
, and
J.
Manca
,
Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys.
36
,
251
(
2006
).
13.
X.
Yang
,
J. K. J.
van Duren
,
R. A. J.
Janssen
,
M. A. J.
Michels
, and
J.
Loos
,
Macromolecules
37
,
2151
(
2004
).
14.
X.
Yang
,
A.
Alexeev
,
M. A. J.
Michels
, and
J.
Loos
,
Macromolecules
38
,
4289
(
2005
).
15.
K.
Maturová
,
S. S.
van Bavel
,
M. M.
Wienk
,
R. A. J.
Janssen
, and
M.
Kemerink
,
Nano Lett.
9
,
3032
(
2009
).
16.
H.
Zhong
,
X.
Yang
,
B.
deWith
, and
J.
Loos
,
Macromolecules
39
,
218
(
2006
).
17.
R.
Boistelle
and
J. P.
Astier
,
J. Cryst. Growth
90
,
14
(
1988
).
18.
M.
Tokuyama
,
K.
Kawasaki
, and
Y.
Enomoto
,
Physica A
134
,
323
(
1986
).
19.
F. C.
Krebs
,
Polymer Photovoltaics: A Practical Approach
(
SPIE
,
Washington
,
2008
).
20.
S.
Chambon
,
A.
Rivaton
,
J. -L.
Gardettea
, and
M.
Firon
,
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
91
,
394
(
2007
).
21.
S.
Schuller
,
P.
Schilinsky
,
J.
Hauch
, and
C. J.
Brabec
,
Appl. Phys. A: Mater. Sci. Process.
79
,
37
(
2004
).
22.
S.
Miyanishi
,
K.
Tajima
, and
K.
Hashimoto
,
Macromolecules
42
,
1610
(
2009
).
23.
B. J.
Kim
,
Y.
Miyamoto
,
B.
Ma
, and
J. M. J.
Fréchet
,
Adv. Funct. Mater.
19
,
2273
(
2009
).
24.
S.
Bertho
,
G.
Janssen
,
T. J.
Cleij
,
B.
Conings
,
W.
Moons
,
A.
Gadisa
,
J.
D'Haen
,
E.
Goovaerts
,
L.
Lutsen
,
J.
Manca
,
D.
Vanderzande
, and
J.
Manca
,
Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells
92
,
753
(
2008
).
25.
K.
Vandewal
,
A.
Gadisa
,
W. D.
Oosterbaan
,
S.
Bertho
,
F.
Banishoeib
,
I.
Van Severen
,
L.
Lutsen
,
T. J.
Cleij
,
D.
Vanderzande
, and
J. V.
Manca
,
Adv. Funct. Mater.
18
,
2064
(
2008
).
You do not currently have access to this content.