Mapping fullerene crystallization in a photovoltaic blend: an electron tomography study
Literature Information
Olof Bäcke, Camilla Lindqvist, Amaia Diaz de Zerio Mendaza, Stefan Gustafsson, Ergang Wang, Christian Müller, Eva Olsson
The formation of fullerene crystals represents a major degradation pathway of polymer/fullerene bulk-heterojunction thin films that inexorably deteriorates their photovoltaic performance. Currently no tools exist that reveal the origin of fullerene crystal formation vertically through the film. Here, we show that electron tomography can be used to study nucleation and growth of fullerene crystals. A model bulk-heterojunction blend based on a thiophene-quinoxaline copolymer and a fullerene derivative is examined after controlled annealing above the glass transition temperature. We image a number of fullerene nanocrystals, ranging in size from 70 to 400 nanometers, and observe that their center is located close to the free-surface of spin-coated films. The results show that the nucleation of fullerene crystals predominately occurs in the upper part of the films. Moreover, electron tomography reveals that the nucleation is preceded by more pronounced phase separation of the blend components.
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Nanoscale

Nanoscale is a high-impact international journal, publishing high-quality research across nanoscience and nanotechnology. Nanoscale publishes a full mix of research articles on experimental and theoretical work, including reviews, communications, and full papers. Highly interdisciplinary, Nanoscale appeals to scientists, researchers and professionals interested in nanoscience and nanotechnology, quantum materials and quantum technology, including the areas of physics, chemistry, biology, medicine, materials, energy/environment, information technology, detection science, healthcare and drug discovery, and electronics. For publication in Nanoscale, papers must report high-quality reproducible new work that will be of significant general interest to the journal's wide international readership. Nanoscale is a collaborative venture between the Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing and a leading nanoscience research centre, the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST) in Beijing, China. image block The journal publishes weekly issues, complementing and building on the nano content already published across the Royal Society of Chemistry Publishing journal portfolio. Since its launch in late 2009, Nanoscale has established itself as a platform for high-quality, cross-community research that bridges the various disciplines involved with nanoscience and nanotechnology, publishing important research from leading international research groups.












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