Processing conformal polymer photovoltaic thin-films on textured topographies for photonic management

在纹理形貌上加工保形聚合物光伏薄膜以进行光子管理

• 批准号: 1236839
• 负责人: Sumit Chaudhary
• 金额: $ 39.95万
• 依托单位: Iowa State University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-08-15 至 2016-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1236839&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Processing; conformal; polymer; photovoltaic; thin

PI: Chaudhary, SumitProposal Number: 1236839Institution: Iowa State UniversityTitle: Processing conformal polymer photovoltaic thin-films on textured topographies for photonic managementOrganic photovoltaic (OPV) technology is a potentially widespread approach for sustainable and economical solar-electric conversion owing to its promise of roll-to-roll fabrication on flexible substrates, using a solution-phase process. In an OPV device, a thin film (active-layer) is coated on a flat substrate from a biphasic solution consisting of two organic materials (electron donors and acceptor). However, optical losses in such a device are high and efficiencies are low. This project introduces a new processing paradigm for light-trapping and higher efficiencies ? coating conformal layers of polymeric OPV blends on sub-micron scale textured topographies. (1) Active-layers of OPVs will be spin-coated on textured topographies and processing-structure-property correlations will be established. (2) A theoretical framework to model fluid-flow and evaporation while coating on textured topographies will be developed to inform the experimental task of best topographical dimensions and appropriate processing conditions. Knowledge discovery emerging will then be used to fabricate textured OPV cells using doctor-blading technique (a prototype for roll-to-roll manufacturing). Overall objective of this project is to establish a library of topographies and processing conditions that are amenable to achieving conformal polymer films on such surfaces, so that effective light trapping and higher solar-electric conversion efficiencies are realized.The proposed research takes the thin-film paradigm into the third dimension (textured approach), thus promising to overcome the classic OPV trade-off pertaining to dissimilar photonic and charge-transport scales. Intellectual merit and transformative nature of proposed research lies in the attempt to answer the following fundamental question ? What should be the dimensions of underlying topographies and processing conditions, such that not only effective optical absorption is achieved in ultra-thin polymer layers, but it is also possible to coat such films, conformally on these topographies? Fabrication and characterization, including optical and device modeling will be coupled with fluid-flow modeling to achieve this overall objective. Other than the field of OPVs, the proposed research will also have implications on a more general problem of thin film coating over functional substrates containing topographical features. This problem is of enormous significance for various engineering, industrial and physical applications.The proposed work is highly interdisciplinary combining elements from experimental work on photovoltaic devices, and computational work on fluid-mechanics and phase-transformation. The multidisciplinary components of the project will be integrated into a larger educational effort to offer students a solid foundation in scientific computing and renewable energy. Our education and outreach plans further include (1) modules for existing course on organic electronics and a new course in multiscale mdoelling, (2) developing a mentoring program, linking graduate with undergraduate students, with special emphasis on underrepresented groups ? with an objective of increasing recruitment and retention, and (3) outreach activities that demonstrate to the K-12 community the crucial role of computing in science and technology. To this end, the PIs will create educational modules involving immersive simulations of OPV processes which will be demonstrated to Ames high school students, (4) preparing modules for the lesson and hands-on components based Toying With Technology program, in place at Iowa State for the current and future K-12 teachers, (5) continuing to work with ?Women in Mechanical Engineering? in engaging women and minority undergraduate students.

PI：Chaudhary，Sumit 提案编号：1236839 机构：爱荷华州立大学 标题：在纹理拓扑上处理保形聚合物光伏薄膜以进行光子管理有机光伏 (OPV) 技术因其滚动承诺而成为可持续且经济的太阳能-电力转换的一种潜在广泛应用的方法使用溶液相工艺在柔性基材上进行卷式制造。 在 OPV 器件中，薄膜（活性层）由两种有机材料（电子供体和受体）组成的双相溶液涂覆在基底上。然而，这种装置的光损耗高且效率低。该项目引入了一种新的光捕获和更高效率的处理范例？在亚微米级纹理表面上涂覆聚合物 OPV 共混物的保形层。 (1) OPV 的活性层将被旋涂在纹理形貌上，并建立加工-结构-性能的相关性。 (2) 将开发一个理论框架，用于模拟在纹理形貌上进行涂层时的“流体流动和蒸发”，以便为最佳形貌尺寸和适当的加工条件的实验任务提供信息。然后，新兴的知识发现将用于使用刮刀技术（卷对卷制造的原型）制造有纹理的 OPV 电池。该项目的总体目标是建立一个地形和加工条件库，适合在此类表面上实现保形聚合物薄膜，从而实现有效的光捕获和更高的太阳能-电力转换效率。拟议的研究采取将薄膜范例引入三维（纹理方法），从而有望克服与不同光子和电荷传输尺度相关的经典 OPV 权衡。所提出的研究的智力价值和变革性在于试图回答以下基本问题？底层形貌和加工条件的尺寸应该是多少，这样不仅可以在超薄聚合物层中实现有效的光学吸收，而且还可以在这些形貌上保形地涂覆此类薄膜？ 制造和表征（包括光学和器件建模）将与“流体”建模相结合，以实现这一总体目标。除了OPV领域之外，拟议的研究还将对包含地形特征的功能性基材上的薄膜涂层这一更普遍的问题产生影响。这个问题对于各种工程、工业和物理应用都具有巨大的意义。所提出的工作是高度跨学科的，结合了光伏器件实验工作以及流体力学和相变计算工作的要素。该项目的多学科组成部分将被整合到更大的教育工作中，为学生提供科学计算和可再生能源方面的坚实基础。我们的教育和推广计划进一步包括（1）现有有机电子课程模块和多尺度 mdoelling 新课程，（2）开发指导计划，将研究生与本科生联系起来，特别强调代表性不足的群体？其目标是增加招聘和保留，以及 (3) 向 K-12 社区展示计算在科学技术中的关键作用的外展活动。为此，PI 将创建涉及 OPV 过程的沉浸式模拟的教育模块，这些模块将向艾姆斯高中生演示，(4) 为爱荷华州立大学实施的基于“玩转技术”计划的课程和实践组件准备模块对于当前和未来的 K-12 教师，(5) 继续与“机械工程领域的女性”合作吸引女性和少数民族本科生。